JACK 
HARKAW4Y 

IN 

CHINA 


BRACEBRIDGE     HEMYNG 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 


, 


JACK  HARKAWAY 


AXD  HIS  SOX^S 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA 


BKACEBR1DGE  HEMYNG 


COMPLETE 


CHICAGO: 

M.  A.  DO^OHUE  &  Co. 


A.    DONOH  UE  &c   COMPANY 


4O7.429    DEARBORN    STREE' 
CH  ICAGO 


rz? 


JACK  HARKAWAY  AND  HIS  SON'S 
ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA. 

CHAPTER  I. 

THE  CHINESE  PIRATE  JUNK. 

"  Now,  boy,"  said  Hunston  to  young  Jack,  when  once 
they  were  fairly  on  deck,  "  your  father  saved  my  life  off 
Cuba  ;  I  have  saved  yours.  " 

Young  Jack  smiled  bitterly. 

Hunston  had  saved  his  life  at  last,  it  is  true,  but  it  was  to 
his  treachery  that  they  owed  their  disastrous  defeat  and  the 
terrible  massacre  of  the  boat's  crew. 

"  You  see,  boy,"  continued  Hunston,  in  the  same  con- 
temptuous tone,  "  we  are  equal  now,  so  look  to  yourselves." 

Young  Jack  made  no  reply. 

He  simply  acknowledged  the  speech  by  a  haughty  in- 
clination of  the  head,  and  Hunston  walked  off  to  get  his  hurts, 
which  were  few  and  trifling,  attended  to. 

Presently  several  of  the  crew  came  and  helped  young  Jack 
to  take  his  companion,  poor  Harry  Girdwood,  below,  where 
the  wounded  pirates  were  being  cared  for. 

The  unfortunate  orphan  boy  had  got  some  ugly  cuts  in  the 
skirmish,  and  only  great  care,  combined  with  skilful  treat- 
ment, could  possibly  bring  him  through. 

They  had  a  doctor  on  board,  who  was  an  American,  and  a 
man  of  some  knowledge  and  experience. 

So  there  was  a  fair  chance  for  everybody. 

The  doctor  looked  hard  at  the  two  boys  when  they  were 
brought  down  to  the  cockpit,  and  it  was  evident  that  their 
presence  there  excited  his  curiosity. 


4  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"Do  you  belong  to  this  ship  ? "  he  asked,  as  he  set  me- 
thodically to  work  to  see  to  Harry  Girdwood's  wounds. 

"  The  pirate  ? "  asked  young  Jack,  in  surprise. 

"  Yes." 

"  Not  exactly,  doctor,"  he  replied.     "  Do  we  look  like  it  ? " 

The  doctor  frowned, 

"  Don't  let  your  tongue  run  away  with  your  discretion,  my 
young  friend,"  he  said ;  "  if  you  don't  care  to  be  taken  for  one 
of  the  crew,  keep  your  sentiments  to  yourself." 

Young  Jack  bit  his  lip. 

"  The  horrid  old  vagabond,"  he  said  to  himself  ;  "  he 
ought  to  be  ashamed  to  be  seen  here.  I  suppose  his  job  is 
to  murder  the  prisoners  by  slow  torture,  when  the  Chinese 
and  the  Lascars  can't  invent  anything  sufficiently  horrible. 

And  he  turned  on  his  heel,  and  strode  haughtily  up  the 
cabin. 

Turning  round,  he  saw  the  doctor  was  looking  steadfastly 
at  him. 

And  then  he  beckoned  him  to  approach. 

Jack  felt  half  inclined  to  take  no  notice  of  it,  but  there  was 
a  commanding  look  about  the  American  doctor  which  the  boy 
instinctively  felt  bound  to  obey. 

"  Come  here." 

Jack  marched  up  with  a  sort  of  defiant  air. 

"  Well,  sir  ?  " 

"  A  word  to  the  wise,  my  lad,"  said  the  doctor,  in  a  low 
but  impressive  voice. 

"  You  can  not  improve  your  position  here  by  any  brag  or 
bold  bearing  ;  indeed,  it  is  very  likely  to  put  an  end  to  your 
captivity  in  a  very  summary  manner,  so  unless  you  wish  to 
walk  the  plank  speedily,  or  have  your  head  battered  in,  keep 
as  civil  a  tongue  in  your  head  as  possible." 

Young  Jack  hung  his  head  abashed  at  this. 

"  Do  you  hear  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"Then  pay  attention,"  said  the  doctor,  "  and  learn  that 
what  I  tell  you  is  for  your  own  good,  and  not  for  the  sake  of 
saying  any  thing  sharp  or  disagreeable." 

Young  Jack  did  not  know  what  reply  to  make  to  this 
strange  speech. 

So  he  simply  nodded  his  head  and  walked  up  the  cabin. 

"  He's  a  strange  man,"  thought  young  Jack. 

"  Tack."  called  Harry  G'rdwood,  faintly. 


ADFEMTVXMS  Of  CJOMA, 

-Yes." 

"  Come  to  him  at  once,"  said  the  doctor, 
•*  Hold  his  hand.     He's  faint.     Stand  quote 

And  then,  white  voang  Jack  stood  holding  the  poor  saf- 
feiers  hand,  the  doctor  finished  drcssmg  Ms  wwmd.%  handling 
him  all  the  while  as  tenderly  as  a  f  ond  mother  might. 

Harry  Giidwood  strove  migfal  and  main  to  stifle  his  groans, 
but  do  what  he  would,  a  nurnaar  of  anguish  escaped  him  from 

Keep  up  awhile,  my  poor  boy/"  said  the  doctor,  enconrag- 
Yonll  be    easy  presendy.      I  shall  get  over  it  as 


The  patient  gave  him  a  grateful  look. 

"Thanks,  doctor." 

«  Hush,  don't  fatigue  yourself  with  speakmg." 
Young  Jack  was  yJiing  more  and  more  puzzled  now. 
Was  the  doctor  really  a  humane  man,  and  yet  the  associate 
of  thieres  and  murderers  of  the  lowest  and  vilest  possible 

J *_--?  _         ^ 

ocscnpoon  ? 

No. 

So  young  Jack  Harkaway  sagely  came  to  this  conclusion — 

"  He  wants  to  lead  us  into  a  frank  avowal  of  our  feehngs/* 
he  said  to  himself,  "in  order  to  betray  us.  but  I  must  put 
poor  Harry  on  his  guard."" 

By  this  time,  Harry  Girdwood's  wounds  being  dressed,  be 
was  allowed  to  rest,  and  then,  being  thoroughly  exhausted,  he 
sank  back  on  his  pillow  into  a  gentle  slumber. 

As  soon  as  he  had  watched  his  companion  so  far  cared  for, 
young  Jack  made  for  the  companion  ladder,  and  was  just  run- 
up to  see  what  was  going  forward  on  deck,  when  the 


-  Where  are  you  going  ? ' 

«0n  deck," 

"What  for?" 

"To  look  about." 

"Are  you  mad?" 

•I  think  not." 

"  Do  you  know  what  you  are  Ekety  to  meet  with  ? 

-Where?" 

"Ondeck." 

•HbJ* 

"Death." 

-Death!" 


6  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"Yes,  young  gentleman,  death.  That  makes  you  start 
But  nothing  is  more  likely.  The  men  you  are  among  now  are 
the  vilest  and  most  unscruplous  you  will  find.  One  man 
walked  the  plank  but  yesterday." 

"  Was  he  a  Frenchman  ? "  asked  young  Jack,  quickly. 

"  Yes." 

"  I  thought  so,  and  called  Monsieur  Potiron  ?  " 

"Yes,"  replied  the  doctor,  in  evident  surprise.  "Then 
you  know " 

"  I  know  all  about  him.     We  picked  him  up." 

"You?" 

"  Yes — our  ship." 

"  Good  Heaven  !  you  don't  say  so." 

"  Yes  sir." 

"  Well,  well,  I  am  glad  he  is  saved,  at  all  events.  Poor 
Potiron.  " 

"  You  knew  him  well." 

"Yes." 

"  Was  he  a  prisoner  on  board  this  ship  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Then  I  am  glad  his  story  was  so  far  true,  at  all  events." 

•"  Was  it  doubted  ? " 

"  In  some  measure,  by  our  officers,  for  he  couldn't  help  pull- 
ing the  long  bow  at  times." 

The  doctor  smiled. 

"  I  know." 

"  He  tried  it  on  here  then,"  said  young  Jack. 

"Of  course,  it  was  in  the  fellow's  blood.  He  could  no 
more  help  bragging  and  exaggerating  than  a  crow  could  help 
cawing.  But  he  was  not  to  say  a  coward,  after  all." 

"  Indeed." 

"  No.  When  his  time  came,  and  he  was  driven  over  the 
ship's  side  into  the  water,  he  showed  a  bold  front." 

"  You  will  excuse  a  question,  doctor  ? "  said  Jack. 

"Certainly — but  I  don't  promise  in  advance  to  answer 
it." 

"  Of  course." 
'  Go  on." 

'  How  came  you  amongst  these  men— doctor  to  a  pirate 
sh  p  ? " 

'  Can't  you  guess  ?  " 

'  Why,  no." 

'  Well,  you  might,  my  young  friend,  and  yet  be  less  quick- 


ADVENTURES  IX  CHIN*.  j 

wilted  than  I  perceive  you  to  be.  How  came  you  and  your 
unfortunate  companion  here  ?  " 

"  We  were  surprised  by  treachery  and  made  prisoners." 

"  And  so  was  I." 

"Indeed,  doctor;  I  thought  that  they  always  put  their 
prisoners  to  death." 

"  Such  is  the  case,"  returned  the  doctor,  "in  most  in- 
stances ;  but  not  always  immediately — or  you  would  not  be 
here." 

**  There  is  a  reason  for  my  escape  which  I  will  explain  to 
you  later  on.'' 

"  And  for  mine  too ;  I  was  seized  amidst  a  scene  of  such 
slaughter  and  such  horrible  carnage  as  I  never  yet  witnessed 
before— as,  please  God,  I  hope  never  to  witness  again. 

"  I  was  dragged  on  board  the  junk,  and  fell  across  a  whole 
mob  of  wounded,  writhing  about  the  deck. 

"  Our  ship  had  been  fought  gallantly,  and  the  slaughter  of 
the  pirates  before  we  were  beaten  was  something  most 
frightful. 

**  One  poor  wretch  was  writhing  on  deck  at  my  feet,  and 
crying  aloud  with  the  agony  of  his  wounds. 

"  With  me  it  is  naturally  a  double  instincl  to  succour  the 
the  wounded:  firstly,  as  a  Christian,  and  secondly,  as  a 
medical  man.  So  I  looked  to  him — dressed  and  comforted 
his  hurts '* 

"  I  see." 

"  Then  told  them  my  profession,  and  I  was  saved,  while 
many  a  poor  prisoner  was  plundered  and  thrown  to  the 
sharks." 

"  And  how  long  have  you  been  a  prisoner  here,  doctor  ?  " 
asked  young  Jack. 

"  Nearly  a  year." 

"So  long?" 

"  Alas !  yes." 

"  Can't  you  escape  ?  " 

"  I  would  risk  my  life  to,  if  there  were  half  a  chance." 

Just  then  Harry  Girdwood  moved  and  groaned,  and  the 
doctor  motioned  young  Jack  to  silence. 

"  Our  talking  disturbs  him,"  he  said  in  a  whisper ;  "  we 
the  must  be  careful,  for  unless  he  gets  perfect  quiet  for  the 
present,  Iwill  not  answer  for  the  poor  boy's  life." 


8  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

CHAPTER   II. 

LIFE  ON  THE  PIRATE  JUNK. 

PRESENTLY  the  doctor  dozed  beside  his  patient. 

His  hands  had  been  full  of  work,  and  he  was  overcome  by 
fatigue. 

Young  Jack  sat  by  watching  him,  when  a  great  scuffling 
and  noise  on  deck  attracted  his  attention, 

"  I  wonder  what's  going  on  there  ?  "  thought  he. 

The  noise  continued,  and  young  Jack  felt  half  inclined 
to  go  up  on  deck  and  see  for  himself. 

Harry  Girdwood,  meanwhile,  slept  peacefully  on.  The 
doctor  slept. 

Young  Jack  arose  to  stretch  his  legs  and  every  time  that 
he  moved  up  the  cabin,  he  drew  nearer  to  the  companion 
ladder  ;  and  presently,  he  mounted  a  step. 

Then  Jack  forgot  all  about  the  doctor's  warning,  and  he 
stepped  on  to  the  deck. 

A  great  deal  of  bustle  and  confusion  was  going  forward 
there. 

Some  of  the  crew  were  busily  engaged  in  swabbing  the 
deck,  to  remove  the  unpleasant  remains  of  the  late  fray. 

By  the  traces  of  blood  about  he  could  see,  plainly  enough, 
that  the  battle  had  been  fierce  and  fatal  to  the  pirates,  who 
had  almost  been  deprived  of  the  pleasure  of  a  retaliation. 

So  thoroughly  were  they  taken  by  surprise,  that  the 
American  ship  under  Captain  Disher's  management,  had 
given  them  the  hottest  work  that  they  had  ever  known. 

The  wounded  were  still  being  helped  away. 

The  slain  outright  were  dragged  off  without  the  faintest 
show  of  ceremony,  and  swung  over  into  the  sea. 

It  was,  indeed,  thanks  to  this  and  similar  noises,  that  young 
Jack  contrived,  for  the  present,  to  pass  unobserved. 

The  boy  locked  about  him  in  every  direction,  but  there  were 
no  signs  of  the  vessel  which  he  had  unfortunately  quitted  on 
that  forlorn  hope. 

And  what  for  ? 

Glory  ! 

Alack ;  he  had  had  his  belly-full  of  glory  by  this  time. 

He  was  no  coward— far  from  it — yet  he  had  learnt  to  feel 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  9 

sorry  that  he  had  ever  quitted  his  mother's  side  upon  that 
unlucky  day. 

He  thought  of  her  pale  face  and  anxious  looks,  and  he 
recalled  her  fond  injunctions  that  he  would  keep  out  of 
danger. 

He  reviewed  his  own  conduct  in  creeping  off  into  the  thick 
of  the  fight,  and  he  felt  inclined  to  take  an  exceedingly 
harsh  view  of  it. 

-  Was   it   true   bravery  after  all?   he  asked  himself,  that 
had  prompted  him. 

Was  not  his  bravery  rather  foolhardiness  ? 

Yes :  decidedly  yes,"  was  his  bitter  reply  to  this  mental 
questioning. 

Moving  about  along  the  deck,  he  came  presently  across  a 
telescope,  and  raising  it  to  his  eye,  he  quickly  adjusted  the 
focus,  and  swept  the  horizon. 

Nothing  in  sight. 

Yet,  stay. 

There  appeared  one  sail,  many,  many  miles  distant. 

So  far,  indeed,  that  it  appeared  but  the  very  tiniest  speck. 

And  this,  he  felt  sure,  must  be  the  ship  which  his  father 
and  mother  were  in. 

He  fixed  it  through  the  glass,  and  gazed  long  and  stead- 
fastly through  it. 

And  as  he  looked,  the  speck  grew  smaller  and  smaller, 
until  it  faded  utterly  out  of  view. 

It  was  gone, 

And  with  its  final  disappearance,  his  heart  sank  low  in- 
deed :  and  the  poor  boy  heaved  a  piteous  sigh  of  despair, 
as  he  let  the  glass  slowly  down, 


A  hand  was  placed  upon  his  shoulder. 

"Well?" 

He  started. 

Then  he  turned  his  head,  and  found  himself  close  to  an 
Englishman  who  was  quite  familiar  to  him. 

"  Well,  Master  Jack  Harkaway,"  said  the  man,  "  so  you 
are  here  in  the  toils  after  all" 

Young  Jack  recognised  him  then. 

"  Emmerson ! " 

"You  know  me  ?" 

"Yes." 


I0  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  1US  SON 'S 

"  Sharp  boy,"  said  Emmerson,  coolly,  for  it  was  indeed  he. 
"  Don't  look  so  scared.  Are  you  frightened  ? " 

Jack  answered  quickly. 

"  Frightened  !     What  of  ?     You  ?     No — not  quite." 

Protean  Bob  laughed  satirically  at  this. 

"  Bravo,  Jack.  You  haven't  lost  the  family  brag,  I  per- 
ceive." 

Jack  reddened  to  the  roots  of  his  hair. 

"  Brag  should  be  your  name,"  he  said. 

"  Cheeky  enough,"  said  Emmerson,  turning  away,  "  I'm 
afraid,  my  fair  youth,  your're  short-lived — too  smart  to  live 
long." 

So  saying,  he  walked  up  the  deck,  leaving  young  Jack  to 
his  own  reflections. 

The  presence  of  Robert  Emmerson  was  the  most  puzzling 
thing  that  had  happened  to  him. 

What  could  it  mean  ? 

It  was  difficult  to  hazard  even  a  guess ;  he  was  anxious  to 
find  out  how  Emmerson  got  on  board  the  pirate  ship. 

But  a  still  greater  surprise  was  in  store  for  young  Jack  be- 
fore he  quitted  the  deck. 

His  attention  was  called  to  a  dispute  that  was  going  on 
aft,  so  he  went  off  at  a  run  to  see  what  the  matter  was. 

It  looked  as  though  a  fight  was  going  on  upon  deck. 

"  I'm  in  it ! "  cried  young  Jack,  in  something  like  glee. 

He  could  never  keep  clear  of  any  thing  of  this  sort. 

He  shared  his  father's  fondness  for  excitement,  and  so 
strong  was  the  instinct  within  him  that  he  never  thought 
how  foolish  it  was  to  flourish  about  the  deck  of  the  pirate 
ship  while  the  wounded  from  the  late  action  were  scarcely 
yet  cared  for,  but  burst  into  the  thick  of  the  mffie. 

Wonders  upon  wonders  here  awaited  him. 

A  huge  fellow  was  knocking  the  seamen  about  like 
skittles. 

A  mammoth  man,  brawny  and  bearded. 

A  man  that  young  Jack  knew  by  sight  almost  as  well  as 
his  own  father. 

Who,  asks  the  reader,  could  he  meet  now  ? 

Who  but  Toro  ? 

The  hot-tempered  Italian  was  quarreling  with  the  Lascars, 
or  the  Celestials,  as  the  Chinese  call  themselves. 

On  the  present  occasion,  a  slight  dispute  had  arisen 
between  them  upon  the  question  of  precedence. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  \  \ 

High  words  were  exchanged  between  them. 

From  high  words  to  blows  is  but  a  slight  step  amongst 
such  lawless  ruffians  as  these,  so  that  when  young  Jack 
armed  upon  the  scene,  they  were  in  the  middle  of  a  most 
undignified  scramble. 

Toro's  huge  bulk,  however,  served  him  quite  grandly  at 
this  precise  amusement. 

He  had  only  to  lay  against  them. 

As  well  might  they  oppose  the  march  of  a  young  elephant. 

But  the  most  abiding  phase  in  the  whole  affair  was  the 
incessant  din  which  the  combatants  kept  up. 

Just  imagine  bad  language  being  bellowed  at  each  other 
by  a  dozen  half-drunken  men  in  four  different  tongues — to 
^rit,  Italian,  Chinese,  Spanish,  and  worse  than  all,  Dutch. 

AH  talking  at  once. 

All  yelling  at  the  top  of  their  voices. 

When  young  Jack  looked  at  Tore,  he  began  to  feel  very 
much  puzzled. 

He  had  seen  Toro  there,  stretched  lifeless  upon  the 
ground,  and,  to  all  appearances,  dead ! 

He  did  not  know  how  Toro  had  been  rescued  by  his  com- 
rades, and  snatched  from  the  grave  at  the  very  last  moment. 

The  whole  scene  was  so  novel,  and  presented  such  a  com- 
plete change  from  what  he  had  been  going  through  until  the 
last  few  hours  of  his  life,  that  he  began  to  ask  himself  if  he 
woe  not  in  a  dream. 

He  had  read  the  legend  of  the  "  Phantom  Ship,**  and  he 
had  a  momentary  fancy  flash  through  his  mind  that  he  was, 
perhaps,  rightly  mourned  as  dead  by  his  parents — that,  in 
spite  of  the  real  look  of  every  thing  around  him,  he  was  out  of 
the  world,  in  the  land  of  spirits,  and  there  renewing  some  of 
the  more  startling  scenes  of  his  earthly  career. 

By  what  process  of  reasoning  young  Jack  contrived  to  liken 
himself  to  the  supernatural  Captain  Vanderdecken,  we  are 
not  in  a  position  to  state. 

AD  we  can  say  is  that,  whatever  wild  flights  his  fancy  may- 
have  taken,  he  was  brought  rudely  back  to  earth  by  being 
roughly  collared  by  TOTD  himself. 

The  giant  had  just  caught  sight  of  him,  and  was  filled  with 
amazement  on  rwm*'"5*ng  him. 

But  recovering  quickly  from  his  surprise,  he  rushed  at  him, 
and  grabbed  him  sharply  by  the  shoulder, 

"Boy!" 


12  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  Well,"  said  young  Jack,  looking  up  at  him  saucily,  "  what 
is  it  ?  " 

Toro  was  staggered. 

"  It  is  young  Jack  Harkaway/'  he  exclaimed. 

"  Rather  !  "  returned  young  Jack,  nodding. 

"  Why,  where  in  the  fiend's  name  did  you  spring  from  ?  " 

"  From  below,"  replied  young  Jack. 

"  The  devil !  "  ejaculated  the  ex-brigand. 

"  Well,  no,"  retorted  our  youthful  hero,  with  his  accustomed 
readiness ;  "  not  from  there,  although  from  below." 

"  Why,  what " 

"  From  the  cockpit,  I  mean,"  explained  young  Jack. 

"  But  how  came  you  there  ? " 

"  Prisoner." 

"  Then  you  must  have  been  on  board  that  American  ship 
that  has  just " 

"  Given  this  ship  a  licking  and  got  clear  off.  Yes,  Signor 
Toro,  I  was." 

'*  And  your  father  ? " 

"  Yes,  he,  too." 

"  And— — " 

"  Mr.  Harvey  ?    Yes,  all  of  us,  including  Mr.  Jefferson." 

"  Hah !  " 

"  Your  worst  enemy." 

"  No,"  ejaculated  Toro,  sharply,  "  Jefferson  is  a  brave  man. 
He  fought  fairly,  and  he  won  the  victory.  He  fully  merited 
it.  Defeat,  boy,  is  bitter,  but  even  Toro  can  learn  a  lessen 
occasionally,  and  I  have  lately  learned  to  know  that  it  is  an 
honour  to  oppose  such  a  man  as  Jefferson,  even  if  beaten." 

Young  Jack  was  astonished  at  this. 

He  regretted  his  taunting  words  then. 

Of  all  the  people  in  the  world,  he  had  certainly  not  ex- 
pected any  thing  like  a  frank  or  generous  admission  on  the 
part  of  Toro. 

"  Nobly  said,  Signor  Toro,"  said  young  Jack,  "  and  believe 
it  or  not,  as  you  may,  I  am  really  glad  to  see  you  here,  al- 
though I  am  quite  astonished  how  you  can  have  got  here." 

"  Tell  me  how  you  came  to  be  made  prisoner.  I  was  on 
deck  about  here  the  whole  time,  but  I  saw  no  prisoners  made." 

"None?" 

"No." 

"  Did  you  not  see  the  fight  between  the  boats  ? " 

"  No." 


ADVENTURES  IJf  CHIXA. 


'-I 


'  WeHSignorToro,"  said  jtwng  Jack,  "  a  fight  did  take 
ce  between  some  of  the  boats.     The  one  I. 


gaged  two  of  the  pirates'  boats,  and  we  were  fast  giving  them 
pepper,  wfaen  a  third  boat  in  our  rear  brought  deserters  from 


-Deaerten?* 

"Yes." 

**So  you  hare  some  traitor  Americans,  as  well  as " 

"There  are  good  and  bad  everywhere,,  Signor  Toco,"  con- 
tinned  Jack.  *  The  boat  was  rowed  by  one  deserter.  The 
oniy  oooer  person  in  the  boat  was  a  prisoner,  aided  by  the 
deserter  to  escape," 

**I  see,"  said  Toro;"  so  yon  had  a  prisoner  ?™ 

"Yes;  WL  piiiUBMi  whose  life  had  been  saved  by  my  father 
off  Cuba.  Goess  who  that  prisoner  was." 

-lean  nor," 

-Why  it  was " 

14  Me,"  said  a  voice  at  young  Jack's  elbow. 

"  Houston ! "  exclaimed  Toro,  in  greater  iiiniimiiil  tfcfgi 
ever;  "  is  it  possible, or  do  my  eyes  deceive  me  ?" 

"Not  at  all,old  comrade,"  returned  Houston ;  "here  I 
••  ITiimlMi  himself  in  the  flesh." 


CHAPTER  HI. 

THE  OXE-LBGGED  XANDAKIX  AXT>  THE  WAMMOTH  PIGTAIL. 

'•  A  KNOWLEDGE  of  their  language  is  very  asefal,'*  said 
xsaac  Mole  to  Dick  Harvey. 

"And  do  you  speak  h, Mr.  Mole?"  asked  Harvey. 

-  Not  to  say  fluently,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  modestly. 

"I  had  no  idea, Mr.  Mole,  you  were  such  a  linguist,"  said 
Harvey.  "So  you  speak  Chinese?" 

**  Yon  know,  Richard,  dialect  is  my  strong  point.  Yon 
3nay  not  now  remember  that  my  knowledge  of  the  American 
oiaiect  was  of  considerable  service  to  us  when  we  landed  in 


Dick  was  ready  to  burst  at  this. 
-  Quite  right,  Mr.  Mofe,"  he  said.     "I 
'Now  it  is  not  vanity  on  my  part,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  in  a 
"  but  I  know  my  powers,  and  I  can 


,4  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

imitate  the  Chinese  dialect   and  intonation  so  nearly  that 
they  would  never  take  me  for  a  foreigner — if — if — if " 

"  If  you  only  wore  a  pigtail,"  suggested  Dick. 

"  Yes." 

"  Why  not  wear  one,  then  ? "  asked  Harvey,  with  great 
gravity. 

Mr.  Mole  looked  very  straight  at  him. 

But  Dick  never  blenched. 

He  smelt  fun  ahead. 

"  So  you  really  think  it  desirable,  Harvey  ? "  continued 
Mr.  Mole. 

"  Of  course." 
/*  Why  ? " 

"  Why,  the  natives  here  are  notorious  thieves  and  rogues ; 
rob  you  they  will  if  you  are  a  foreigner,  and  if  they  have  only 
half  a  chance,  so  you  decidedly  gain  a  point  by  looking  like 
one  of  themselves." 

"  I  see." 

"  So  that  in  their  dress,  and  profiting  by  your " 

"  Imitative  powers,  which  I  possess  so " 

"  Like  a  monkey." 

"  What  ? " 

"  I  say  almost  like  the  monkeys  do." 

"  I  object  to  your  similes,  Richard ;  I  don't  like  your  dis- 
respectful way  of  coupling  my  name  with  that  of  a  monkey." 

*•  No  offence,  sir." 

"  I  dare  say,  but " 

"  Come,  come,  Mr.  Mole,  don't  be  so  thin-skinned ;  I  took 
you  for  a  man  of  too  mnch  mind " 

"  Quite  right." 

"  And  really,  if  you  analyse  it,  I  think  you  will  admit  it  is 
a  compliment." 

"  Ahem ! " 

****** 

Mr.  Mole  used  to  air  his  Chinese  upon  the  native  coolies 
on  the  plantation,  and  the  men,  cunning  enough  in  their  way, 
soon  learned  that  the  best  way  to  propitiate  their  chief  was 
to  pretend  to  understand  all  he  said  or  wished  to  say  in  their 
own  tongue. 

The  honest  truth  is,  that  Mr.  Mole  did  not  know  much 
about  it. 

"  Chin-chin,"  and  a  few  phrases  of  "pigeon-English,"  had 
to  serve  for  a  whole  vocabulary. 


ADVENTURES  Iff  CHINA  15 

Mr.  Mole,  however,  in  deference  to  Harvey's  opinion  of  the 
"  proper  thing  to  do,"  had  his  head  shaved  over  his  manly 
brow,  and  made  desperate  efforts  to  grow  a  pigtail. 

Alas !  his  efforts  were  not  seconded  by  nature. 

All  he  could  do,  the  pigtail  would  not  be  coaxed  into  grow- 
ing a  respectable  length. 

"  No  matter,  my  dear  sir,"  said  Dick.     **  What  is  art  for  ?  " 

"  Can't  say,"  responded  Mr.  Mole.    "  What  do  you  say  ? " 

"To  replace  nature  under  certain  conditions." 

Mr.  Mole  rubbed  his  nose  and  pondered  deeply. 

He  had,  if  the  honest  truth  be  told,  taken  something 
stronger  than  tea  that  day,  and  although  not  by  any  means 
mentally  obfuscated,  he  felt  that  he  was  not  as  clear  as  he 
should  wish  to  be  as  to  Harvey's  meaning. 

He  felt  that  he  had  been  indulging  a  little,  and  he  exag- 
gerated in  his  fears  the  effect  it  had  taken  upon  him. 

"  Isaac  Mole,  "  he  said  to  himself,"  you  must  pull  yourself 
together,  or  else  you  will  have  Mrs.  M,  about  your  ears. 
She's  a  good  creature,  but  so  precious  strait-laced  upon  the 
question  of  a  glass  of  grog  more  or  bss  that  let  her  half  zus- 
pect  the  least  thing,  and  she'll  look  as  black  as — as  black 
as — pah  J  Ha !  that's  a  joke.  Mustn't  joke  about  Chios,  by 
jingo ! " 

And  doubts  came  over  him. 

Had  he  understood  Harvey  aright  ? 

Now,  during  this  long  soliloquy  Dick  stood  looking  at  the 
tutor,  asking  himself  whether  the  old  gentleman  smelt  a  rat. 

"  I  must  be  wary,"  thought  the  artful  Dick,  "  and  not  spoil 
sport  by  being  over  eager." 

Then,  on  looking  again  at  Mr.  Mole,  he  changed  his  mind. 

u  He's  tight." 

But  he  was  wrong. 

Isaac  Mole  was  not  in  that  condition  so  vulgarly  yet  tersely 
described. 

"  My  dear  Harvey,"  said  the  tutor, '« I  am  waiting  for  the 
last  ten  minutes  to  hear  you  finish  your  eloquent  reasoning." 

"  Which  ?" 

"  What  you  began." 

"Ohl  I  see." 

"All  about  ature  and  nart — I  mean  nature  and  art. 
Richard,  Richard,"  added  Mr.  Mole,  with  a  half  tipsy  and 
reproving  smile.  *'  I  fear  you  must  have  been  indulging  a 
bit  freely  to-day." 


j6  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  What  ?  " 

"  Dick,  you're  not  quite  clear  there,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  tap- 
ping his  forehead  significantly. 

"  Come,  come,  I  say,  Mr.  Mole,''  exclaimed  Harvey,  indig- 
nantly. 

"You  know  it's  true." 

"  I  know  nothing  of  the  kind.  The  proof  is  I  was  urging 
you,  as  soberly  and  as  reasonably  as  a  reasoning  man  can, 
to  replace  nature's  deficiencies  by  a  work  of  art." 

Mole  smiled. 

"  Ha  !  now  we're  getting  back  to  it.     Explain  yourself." 

"  You  have  no  pigtail.  Have  an  artificial  one  made  for  you  " 

Mr.  Mole  stared. 

"  Do  you  mean  it  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"Truly?" 

"Why  not?" 

Mr.  Mole  reflected  for  a  little  time. 

"Why,  just  listen,  sir,"  said  Dick.  "You  admit  that  the 
object  is  to  pass  yourself  off  as  a  native  Chinese  ? " 

"Yes." 

"  For  the  purpose  of  defeating  their  cheating,  avaricous 
ways  ? " 

'*  Yes,  yes." 

"  Well,  then,  every  means  is  fair,  and  worth  trying,  I  take 
it." 

"  Perhaps  you're  right,  Harvey,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 

"  Perhaps.  Why,  I  am  sure,"  exclaimed  Dick,  with  an  air 
of  perfect  enthusiasm.  "  Now  I'll  tell  you  what,  Mr.  Mole." 

"Why?" 

"  I'll  be  bound  that  you  can  find  artificial  pigtails  ready 
made  here." 

Mr.  Mole  looked  very  dubious  at  this. 

"Think  so?" 

"  I  feel  sure  so.  There  is  in  fact,  I  should  say,  a  large 
trade  done  in  them  here.  It  is  a  natural  consequence. 
Witness  the  enormous  trade  done  in  chignons  in  England." 

This  argument  appeared  conclusive. 

"  To  be  sure." 

"Well,  I'll  go  and  try  to  find  one,"  said  Dick. 

"Do  you  think  it  advisable?  Well,  perhaps — but  don't 
get  a  very  long  one." 

"  Why  not  ?  " 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHI* A.  17 

"As  I'm  not  used  to  it." 

"If  I  wore  one  at  all  myself,"  said  Dick,  " I  should  wear 
it  down  to  the  ground." 

"  You  would  ?  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole.     "  And  why  ?  " 

"  Because  these  savages  call  all  of  the  short-haired  people 
barbarians." 

-I  know." 

"And  they  measure  their  respect  for  a  man  by  the  length 
of  his  pigtail" 

Mr.  Mole  burst  out  laughing  at  this  idea.  It  tickled  him 
uncommonly. 

He  fairly  roared,  and  Dick  had  some  trouble  to  keep  his 
own  countenance. 

"  When  you  have  quite  done,  sir,"  he  said,  trying  to  look 
severe. 

"Oh,  don't,  don't,  Harvey!7*  cried  the  tutor,  while  the 
tears  ran  down  his  cheeks ;  "  I  can't  stand  that." 

"  Mr.  Mole,  you  always  seem  to  treat  lightly  any  informa- 
tion I  have  gleaned  and  wish  to  impart." 

"No,  no." 

"  I  say  you  do." 

"Come,  come,  Harvey — no  offence  is  meant — only " 

"  I  know  what  it  is  ;  you  can  never  forget  that  you  were 
the  tutor,  I  the  scholar,  and  you  feel  ashamed  of  gleaning  any 
information  from  me." 

Mr.  Mole  was  touched  at  this. 

"  My  dear  Harvey,"  he  said,  "  I  know  we  are  never  too  old 
to  learn." 

"  Then  you  may  gain  knowledge,  even  at  your  advanced 
age." 

Mr.  Mole  looked  severe,  now  in  his  turn. 

"Don't  be  personal,  Han 

"  I  won't.     But  laugh  as  you  may,  I  don't  see  that  there  is 
so  much  to  laugh  at  in  the  measuring  of  a  man's  intelligence 
by  the  length  of  his  pigtail." 
hy,  Harve, 

'  Well,  do  you  remember  what  it  says  in  the  Bible  about 


"  Well,  no,  I  don't — not  at  this  precise  moment" 
"  It  says  that  his  strength  lay  in  his  hair." 
-  So  it  does ! " 

And  leaving  Mr.  Mole  sharply,  on  this  effect,  it   served  as 
,  caching  argument. 


l8  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOJV'S 

Dick  went  after  the  pigtail. 

Need  we  say  that  he  had  not  far  to  go  ? 

Of  course  not. 

He  had  had  it  carefully  stored  up  for  some  time  past, 
ready  for  the  moment  that  he  should  have  prepared  Mr.  Mole 
for  it  by  subtle  reasoning. 

Dick  called  a  meeting  of  his  party  generally,  and  all  at- 
tended, with  the  exception  of  the  Harkaways — Jack  and 
Emily. 

The  bereaved  parents  of  poor  young  Jack  had  no  heart  for 
fun. 

You  must  not  suppose  from  this  that  the  others  had  for- 
gotton  our  daring  young  hero. 

No,  they  had  never  ceased  to  mourn  his  loss. 

But  to  Harvey  fun  came  as  naturally  as  his  food,  and  the 
rest  of  the  party  shared  his  predilection  in  this  particular. 

"  I  have  persuaded  old  Mole  to  wear  the  pigtail,"  said 
Dick,  when  all  were  assembled,  "  and  here  it  is." 

"  Isn't  it  a  beauty  ?  "  exclaimed  Jefferson. 

"  A  real  gem !  "  cried  the  rest  in  a  chorus. 

"  Rather  large,  isn't  it,  Mr.  Harvey  ? "  said  Pike. 

"  A  whacker." 

"  He'll  never  wear  that." 

"  It  may  put  him  on  his  guard,  and  spoil  the  joke  altogether,* 
suggested  Magog  Brand. 

"  Never  fear." 

"  He  must  be  very  groggy  if  he  puts  that  on,"  said  Nab- 
ley. 

"  Not  very,"  replied  Dick  ;  "  I  have  carefully  prepared 
the  way." 

"  I'll  bet  a  sovereign  you  never  get  him  to  wear  it." 

"  Done. " 

"  You  take  me  ? " 

"  Yes,  it  is  a  bet." 

"  I  want  to  win  a  little  money,"  said  Jefferson.  "  I  have 
you  for  ten  dollars." 

"  Done  again  !  " 

So  the  gambling  fit  beginning,  went  all  round,  and  Dick 
made  bets  with  each. 

"  Now  for  it,"  said  he,  "  but  you  mustn't  breathe  a  word 
that  might  spoil  sport." 

"  No,  no  ! " 

"  Of  course  not" 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  19 

"I  shaH  be  only  too  glad  to  lose  my  bet,0  said  Jefferson  ; 
"  the  fun  will  be  cheap  at  the  price.1* 
"Weil,  then,"  said  Dick,  -I'll  not  only  make  him  wear  it, 

but  111  bang  him  before  you  as  a  real  •  Heathen  Chinee!  '  " 
*  ***** 

Dick  returned  to  Mole  with  the  pigtaiL 

"  It  is  rather  an  unusual  size,  Harvey,"  began  the  tutor. 

"Not  at  all,"  replied  Dick,  coolly. 

"  They  never  wear  them  so  large  as  this  one,  though." 

"  Not  die  coolies,  nor  the  common  Chinese.  But  the 
mandarins  and  the  regular  celestial  swells  do  ;  longer,  in  fact." 

"Come,  I  say." 

"  It's  a  fact,  sir,  only  I  thought  you  wouldn't  care  for  a 
lamer  one  until  you  got  better  used  to  it." 
"I  should  think  not,0  ejaculated  Mole. 

"  Come,  sir,  try  it  on." 

Mole  paused. 

He  did  not  really  quite  relish  the  idea. 

"  I  don't  positively  think)  Harvey,  that  I  can  bring  myself 
to  put  that  monstrous  thing  on.  Why,  it's  like  the  great  sea 
serpent  that  superstitious  mariners  talk  of." 

Harvey  frowned,  and  looked  sulky  at  this. 

"  Well,  good-morning,  Mr.  Mole,"  he  said,  moving  towards 
the  door. 

-Areyou  going?" 

"  Really,  I'm  sorry  to  give  you  so  much  trouble." 

"  Oh,  don't  mention  it,"  said  Dick,  with  affected  coldness, 

"only  you  won't  catch  me  wasting  my  time  ina  hurry  again; 

good-morning." 

"  Stop  a  minute,  my  dear  Harvey.    You  really  are  so  very 


"Well." 

He  paused  suddenly  at  the  door  without  turning  round. 

"  You  are  not  joking  ?  " 

Dick  was  fit  to  split,  but  he  managed  to  preserve  an  immo- 
bile and  severe  expression. 

"  Mr.  Mole,  there  are  seasons  for  every  thing.  You  appear 
to  look  upon  me  as  a  species  of  baboon." 

"Harvey!" 

"  So  yon  do.  Do  you  think  I  waste  all  my  time  in  idle 
levity,  sir  ?  How  long  have  I  been  pelting  all  over  the  place 
to  find  you  that,  and  now  you  —  pah!  I  am  disgusted." 


20  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  KIS  SON'S 

And  he  moved  on. 

"  Stop,  stop ! " 

« Well,  sir?" 

"  I'll  put  it  on,  Harvey,  if  you  assure  me  on  your  hon- 
our  " 

Dick  frowned. 

"  Such  a  speech,  Mr.  Ivlole,  I  wouldn't  have  tolerated  from 
any  one  but  an  old  and  valued  friend.  It  implies  a  doubt  of 
my  veracity." 

"  Dear,  dear  me  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  in  sore  distress  at 
wounding  Dick's  feelings.  "  I'll  put  it  on  then." 

"  Not  to  please  me." 

"  Then  I  will  to  please  myself ;  only  stay  a  moment." 

And  so,  by  degrees,  Dick  was  even  persuaded  into  fitting  it 
on,  so  good-natured  and  easily  mollified  did  he  appear. 

"  Doesn't  it  hang  down  a  very  long  way  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Mole, 
nervously. 

"  Not  very." 

"  I  think  I'd  like  it  coiled  up  at  first." 

"Very  well." 

So  Dick  coiled  it  up,  and  finished  Mr.  Mole's  toilette  a  la 
Chinoise  with  the  grace  and  dexterity  of  a  barber  of  Pekin. 

Mr.  Mole  surveyed  himself  in  the  glass. 

"  Well,  really,  Harvey,  I  think  your  judgment  b  correct 
after  all,"  he  said,  graciously. 

"  I  thought  so." 

"  Quite." 

"  You  prefer  to  have  it  coiled  up,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  Well,  eh ;  now  that  I  am  getting  a  bit  used  to  it,  suppose 
you  let  it  down  again." 

"  Very  well,"  answered  Dick,  quite  delighted  with  his  suc- 
cess, "  since  you  wish  it,  sir,  as  the  ghost  says  to  Hamlet — '  I 
will  a  tale  unfold.' " 

"  Don't  joke,  Harvey.'* 

"  Certainly  not." 

"  Which  is  best  ? "  demanded  Mr.  Mole,  after  a  lengthy 
study  of  his  personal  appearance  in  the  glass. 

"  Well,  my  candid  opinion  is  that  way,"  answered  Dick, 

"  You  think  so  ?  " 

"  I'm  sure  so." 

*'  I  hardly  know,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  hesitatingly. 

"  I'm  so  positive,"  said  Dick,  "  that  I'll  undertake  to  pass 
you  before  all  our  friends  as  a  native  mandarin." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  «• 

Mr.  Mole  took  alarm  at  this. 

He  smelt  mischief  in  the  suggestion. 

"Nonsense!" 

"Ill  wager  you  ten  pounds  that  they  won't  recognise 
you, "  persisted  Dick. 

•*  Ten  pounds  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Stake  your  money." 

Dick  did  so. 

••  Now  you  must  keep  your  countenance,  and  not  make 
any  sign  that  would  betray  you." 

"  Trust  me." 

****** 

Mandarin  Mole,  gorgeously  arrayed  in  a  purple  silk  sac- 
tunic,  and  brown  satin  trousers,  worn  low  so  as  to  conceal 
his  wooden  leg,  and  with  his  long  pigtail  dangling,  passed 
out,  accompanied  by  Harvey. 

In  an  adjoining  room  all  the  party  arose. 

"  His  excellency  the  Mandarin  Chung  Ike  Moky,"  said 
Harvey,  with  the  air  of  a  grand  chamberlain. 

The  whole  party  bowed  with  every  appearance  of  great 
respect. 

Mandarin  Mole  passed  on,  accompanied  by  his  escort, 
bowing  condescendingly. 

And  so  they  passed  out  of  the  room. 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

•*  What  do  you  think  of  that,  Mole  ?" 

"  A  perfect  success ! "  ejaculated  Mole, 

"  I  should  think  so." 

"They  were  all  quite  deceived." 

*•  That  they  were." 

Mandarin  Mole  chuckled  to  himself. 

"  I  cannot  refrain,  my  dear  Harvey,"  said  the  new  man- 
darin bubbling  with  laughter,  "from  a  vulgar  idiom,although 
I  don't  usually  indulge  myself  in  such  things." 

"  Fire  away,  sir,"  said  Dick,  "  and  ease  yourself  for  once." 

"  I  mean  to  say,  Harvey,  that  in  the  Cocknev  slang,  we 
had  them  alive.9 

-  Had  'em,  sir,"  said  Dick,  getting  yet  more  slangy—"  had 
'em  on  toast.* 


IACK  HARKA IV A  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  LESSON  IN  REAL  CHINESE. 

MONDAY  entered. 

"  Well ,  Monday  ?  "  said  Harvey.     "  What  now  ?  " 
"  Hyar's  a  Chinee  swell,  sar,  dat  want  to  see  Massa  Mole." 
Harvey  tipped  Monday  the  wink  on  the  sly,  that  is,  unseen 
by  Mandarin  Mole. 

"  Mr.  Mole  is  not  here  at  present,  Monday." 

"Sare?" 

"  But  he  will  be  here  shortly." 

"  Shall  I  ax  the  Chinee  swell  to  walk  in,  sare  ?  " 

"  Yes." 


With  that  Monday  disappeared. 
"  Now,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Har 


[arvey,  with  a  great  show  of  anx- 
iety ;  "  this  is  the  time  to  distinguish  yourself." 

"  How  ?  " 

"  By  letting  him  see  you  are  up  to  every  thing." 

"  But  do  you  know  who  it  is  ? "  demanded  Mr.  Mole 
nervously. 

"No." 

"  I  can  guess." 

"Who  is  it  then?" 

"  A  sort  of  shipping  agent  who  is  to  arrange  about  charter- 
ing a  vessel  for  me." 

"  What's  his  name  ? " 

"  Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming." 

"  Is  he  a  merchant  ?  " 

"  He'  a  kind  of  shipbroker.  He  has  been  recommended 
to  me  by  some  friends  here,  and  is  a  most  reliable  person." 

Without  any  more  ado,  therefore,  the  shipbroker  was 
admitted. 

Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming  was  a  remarkable-looking  person. 

He  wore  a  very  broad-brimmed  hat  which  shaded  his  face, 
but  did  not  quite  conceal  an  ugly  scar  across  his  forehead 

He  had  no  pigtail,  but  wore  his  hair,  which  was  coarse  as 
horsehair,  and  jet  black,  very  short. 

He  had  no  eyebrows,  nor,  indeed,  any  hair  upon  his  face 
at  all  ;  but  his  skin  was  so  dark  that  he  looked  almost  like 
a  mulatto. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  23 

This  was  Ac  chief  characteristic  that  Dick  Harvey  noticed. 
-  He  is  certainly  a  rum  one,"  said  he  to  himself. 
-Is  his  excellency  present?"  demanded  the  visitor  in 
bat  with  a  very  strong  accent,  after  a 


There  was  a  tone  in  the  voice  of  Kga-Eng-M  ing-Ming 
that  rang  in  his  ears. 

Was  k  a  familiar  tone  to  him  ? 

Query. 

Dick"  was  a  rare  fellow  for  fancying  that  he  traced  like- 
nesses between  folks. 

This  fancy  had  often  led  him  into  small  scrapes,  so  that, 
Dfiiig  aware  of  his  weakness,  he  was  m  a  measure  prepared 
to  combat  it,  and  to  persuade  hi«n«felf  th?t  it  was  nothing 
bat  fancy. 

-Hi*  excellency  Mr.  Mole  sent  for  me,"  said  Hga-Eng; 
•may  his  servant  ask  the  motive  ?  " 

•  Certainly,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  cheerfully. 

•You  speak  English,  too  ?"  said   Kga-Eng-Mmg  Ming, 
taming  to  Mandarin  Mole  in  unfeigned  suiiniae. 
-Ofc,yes." 

•I,  too,  have  been  much  with  Englishmen." 
«  Much  with  Englishmen,  have  you,  indeed  ?"  said  Harvey, 

"~-VrV"~ 
" Been  in  England?" 

•  Yes,"  replied  the  shipbroker,  who  looked  extremely  con- 
fused, and  at  last  fiercely  laid  his  hand  upon  a  short  carved 
sword  he  wore. 

"  Hallo,  Master  Chinaman  ! "  exclaimed  Dick  Harvey. 
noticing  the  threatening  motion  of  the  Celestial  towards  his 
sword,  *•  what  do  you  mean  by  that  ?" 

fc  Do  you  mean  to  threaten  me  ?  "  asked  Dick,  half  drawing 
a  revolver  from  his  pocket. 

•  Certainly  not,  excellency.,  bat  some  years  ago  I  received 
such  treatment  bom  a  party  of  your  countrymen,  that  I  am 
almost  mad  when  I  think  about  it." 

"Ohindeed!    Pray  what  did  they  do  ?" 

•Pardon,  it  is  a  long  story,  and  it  will  not  make  you  prood 
of  yoor  countrymen,  so  let  os  proceed  to  business.  You  sent 
forme." 

•Yes." 


24  JACK  HA RKA  WA  r  AND  HIS  SO.V 'S 

«<For " 

"  For  the  purpose  of  getting  rates  quoted,"  said  Harvey, 
"  and  learning  the  dates  of  the  different  ships  engaged  in  this 
trade— that  is  all." 

"  Good,  sir.     I  can  give  them  to  you  when  you  please." 

"  Now,  then." 

Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming  referred  to  a  small  pocket-book  he 
carried  before  he  made  answer — 

"  There  is  the  '  Maria  Theresa  '  on  the  twenty-third." 

"  The  twenty-third.     That  will  about  suit,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 

"  On  the  twenty-fourth  we  have  another  departure." 

"  The  name  of  the  vessel,  if  you  please." 

"The'  Franz  Josef/  " 

"  Austrian  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Both  ? " 

"  Yes." 

*'  Now,"  said  Dick,  who  had  a  double  motive  for  his  next 
proposition,  "  suppose  you  and  Mr.  Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming  ar- 
range about  the  rates." 

"  Freight  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Very  good." 

"  Make  your  prices  in  his  language,"  said  Dick  to  Mr.  Mole. 

"  What  for  ?  "  asked  the  latter,  nervously. 

"  He'll  be  more  at  home,  of  course,  and  it  will  be  just  the 
same  to  you." 

"  Why,  of  course — very  nearly  the  same  thing,  that  is." 

"  So  I  said." 

Then  Dick  pulled  the  Chinese  aside  a  few  paces,  and  said 
to  him,  in  a  low  voice — 

"  Will  you  talk  to  him  in  your  own  language  ?  " 

"  Why  ? " 

"  To  please  him." 

"Do  I  not  speak  English  well  enough  for  you  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes." 

"  And  does  not  his  excellency  understand  me  thoroughly  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"Then  why  change  our  language  at  all  ?" 

"  There  is  nothing  very  serious  in  it,  my  good  sir,"  replied 
Harvey.  "  But  Mandarin  Mole  is  a  great  linguist  in  our 
country.  He  talks  every  tongue,  and  he  told  me  on  the  quiet, 
that  is,  between  ourselves,  just  now,  that  he  did  not  believe 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  2$ 

you  U'fre  a  Chinaman."  Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming  gave  the 
speaker  a  curious  glance. 

He  felt  uncomfortable  apparently. 

Dick  watched  him. 

Not  a  look  of  his,  not  the  faintest  change  in  his  expres- 
sion escaped  Harvey. 

For  the  latter's  suspicions  were  roused. 

"  I'll  wager  any  thing,"  said  he  to  himself,  **  that  they  are 
both  humbugs — he  as  great  as  Mole  and  Mole  as  great  as  he. 
Hang  me  if  I  don't  try  them  ! " 

So  turning  again  to  the  shipbroker,  he  addressed  him  in  the 
following  extraordinary  idiom — 

"Chin  Chin." 

"  Chin  Chin,"  responded  Biga-Eng,  promptly. 

"Exactly,"  said  Dick,"  Chin  Chin  talkee  talkee,  pongo 
wong,  cow  cross,  cum  roce  pork." 

"Oh,  yes." 

"  Do  you  think  so,  Mr.  Mole  ? "  asked  Dick. 

The  tutor  was  a  bit  puzzled,  but  he  made  a  wild  hit  at  it. 

"  Very  much,  indeed." 

"  I  thought  so,"  said  Dick,  rather  gravely. 

Then  he  went  on  staring  hard  at  Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming, 
who  was  fast  waxing  very  unhappy. 

"  Chin  Chin,  youra  braceofor  alumb  ugsum  ustown  ? 
Eh?" 

"  Decidedly,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  eagerly. 

"Quite  right." 

"I  thought  so,"  said  Dick,  looking  more  serious  than 
ever. 

"  I  had  no  idea  you  spoke  the  language,  Harvey,"  said 
Mr.  Mole. 

"  I  thought  not" 

"  Most  fluent,"  said  Biga-Eng,  politely. 

"  You  flatter,"  said  Harvey,  diffidently. 

"  Oh,  no." 

"Well, "  said  Dick,  "  I  have  only  to  add  that  Chin  Chin 
talkee  talkee  bird's-nest  or  finerat  cum  pickleggwalk  ickeraboo 
an  chapell  blanche  orfulduf  fers  bo  thovtu" 

"  Oh,  precisely,"  said  Mole,  "  just  my  opinion.     Eh,  sir  ?  " 

"  Decidedly,"  responded  Biga-Eng. 

"  I  felt  sure  that  you  would  agree  with  me,"  said  Dick. 

**  Quite  right." 

"  Great  fluency,"  said  Biga-Eng  to  Mole. 


26  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  Wonderful,"  responded  Mr.  Mole. 

Dick  enjoyed  it  mightily,  as  you  may  suppose. 

"  The  thundering  old  humbugs  !  "  he  said  to  himself.  "  1*11 
lead  them  a  precious  dance  yet." 

The  sham  Chinese  shipbroker  now  began  fidgeting  about. 

Evidently  he  wanted  to  be  off. 

But  Dick  would  not  let  him  go  just  yet. 

"  Chin  Chin,"  said  he. 

"  Chin  Chin,"  replied  Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming. 

"  Pikey  wike  oky  in  long  acre  chung  drury  lane  and  bumfit 
co  perriwig  in  baggynails,"  said  Dick,  addressing  Mr.  Mole 
with  great  apparent  earnestness  ;  "  to  which  I  may  add,  keri 
ki  ko  thum  an  there  ugo  cherribobin  an  berrymee  dasently." 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  "  no  one  could  deny  the  truth  of 
that." 

"  No  one,"  said  the  shipbroker,  thus  appealed  to. 

"  Well,  Harvey,  we  are  quite  agreed,"  said  the  tutor,  "  so 
that  settles  it." 

'  Just  so." 

'  I  will  send  you  the  table  of  the  rates,"  said  Biga-Eng- 
Ming-Ming. 

'  Very  good." 

'  As  soon  as  possible,"  said  Harvey. 

And  then  the  shipbroker  made  a  low  salaam,  and  took 
his  leave. 

Upon  this  Harvey  followed  him  out,  and  watched  dis- 
creetly where  he  went  to. 


CHAPTER  V. 

WHO   LAUGHS    LAST? 

WHO  could  be  happier  ? 

Who  more  than  satisfied  than  the  three  of  them  ? 

Each  fancied  that  he  had  hoodwinked  the  other  two, 

****** 

"  I've  humbugged  Master  Dick  Harvey  most  completely 
this  time,"  said  Isaac  Mole,  "  He  won't  try  it  on  again 
with  me  in  a  hurry.  I  got  out  of  it  with  even  more  than 
my  accustomed  skill  and  readiness.  But  really,  I  should 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  27 

never  have  imagined  that  he  was  so  very  proficient  in  the 
Chinese  language.    He  took  me  completely  by  surprise." 

"I've  rather  worried  the  two  of  diem  this  time."  said 
Dick  Harvey  to  himself;  "but  old  Mole  ought  to  have  a 
severe  lesson  for  his  lying  and  brag.  He's  not  had  it  half 
taken  oat  of  him  as  yet.  I  most  manage  something  yet  to 
worry  him. 

"  And  as  for  that  other  scamp — for  I  feel  sore  he  is  a 
scamp — I  should  like  to  show  him  up.  I'm  positive  he  is 
a  thorough  impostor.  I  must  give  it  to  him.  But  the  first 
step  is  to  find  out  who  he  is,  now  that  I  know  where  he 
lives.  I  feel  as  though  I  had  known  him  wonderfully  well 
some  time  or  another.  But  when  ?  That's  the  question." 
****** 

Biga-Eng  hurried  home,  and  once  safely  indoors,  he  drop- 
ped into  a  cushion  on  the  ground  and  gave  vent  to  his 
fapKng^  which  had  considerably  changed  since  leaving 
Harvey  and  Mole. 

-Harvey!"  he  ejaculated,  "and  old  Mole.  Of  all  the 
bad  luck  in  the  world,  nothing  could  be  so  bad  as  this ;  why 
I  shouldn't  wonder  Jack  Harkaway  is  with  them. 

"tf  they  are  all  here,  it  win  soon  be  the  end  of  me.  They 
never  let  a  poor  devil  have  a  chance  with  their  precious 
virtue,  bnt  so  far  I  have  the  advantage  of  them.  I  know  of 
their  presence,  but  they  will  never  dream  who  Biga-Eng- 
Ming-Ming  can  be." 

But  presently  a  smile  crossed  his  evil  face. 

He  thought  of  a  scheme  for  making  a  good  bag  of  money 
in  a  single  stroke  and  taking  a  "rise  out  of  old  Ikey  Mole," 
as  be  expressed  it,  all  under  one. 

"The  twenty-third,"  he  said  to  himself.  "Wdl,  I  can't 
be  too  early  with  my  warning  to  them.  I  must  send  them  a 
letter  now,  and  then  make  sure  of  old  Mole,  the  silly  old 
pump!" 

And  then  the  shipbroker  sat  himself  down,  and  addressed 
a  letter  to  one  Chung  Ali,  now  the  commander  of  the 
"Flowery  Land,"  a  heavy  war-junk,  cruising  about  the 
China  Seas,  and  said  to  be  as  suspicious  a  craft  as  any 
afloat. 

Later  on,  you  will  see  the  results  brought  about  by  this 
ie::er. 


2&  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

CHAPTER  VL 

DANGER  1 

To  return  to  young  Jack. 

On  board  the  "  Flowery  Land,"  all  went  on  quietly  enough 
for  the  present. 

The  reaction  after  the  fatal  fight  with  the  American  ship 
under  Captain  Clemmans  ensured  this. 

Young  Jack  managed  to  take  advantage  of  a  short  conver- 
sation between  Toro  and  some  of  the  Lascar  seamen — pre- 
paratory to  a  renewal  of  their  scramble,  be  it  remarked — to 
steal  off  and  make  for  the  cabin  again. 

Harry  Girdwood  still  slept  on. 

The  doctor,  however,  had  just  woke  up. 

"  Well,  young  gentleman,"  said  he,  gruffly,  "  so  you  have 
thought  fit  to  disobey  orders  ?  " 

"  Orders,  doctor  ?  "  said  young  Jack,  in  surprise. 

"  Did  I  not  say " 

"  Yes,  yes,  doctor,"  returned  young  Jack,  interrupting  him  ; 
"  you  were  good  enough  to  give  me  advice.  Had  you  given 
me  an  order,  I  should  not  have  thought  of  disobeying  you." 

The  doctor  smiled. 

"  You're  as  artful  as  you  are  plucky,  my  lad,"  he  said  ; 
"only  there  is  no  merit,  bear  in  mind,  in  risking  one's  life 
needlessly." 

"I'm not  ungrateful  for  your  kindness,  doctor,"  Jack  said, 
"but  really  I  could  not  control  my  curiosity,  and  so  I — 

"  And  so  you  chose  to  thrust  your  head  into  the  lion's 
mouth  ? " 

"  Not  quite  that,  doctor,"  said  young  Jack.  "  I  only  went 
about  to  take  observations." 

"  With  what  result  ?  " 

"  I  did  not  learn  a  great  deal,"  said  young  Jack. 

"  I  though  not." 

"  I  only  recognised  amongst  the  crew  an  old  enemy." 

"  Indeed." 

•'  Yes.  A  man  I  felt  sure  was  dead  long  ago.  I  left  him 
covered  with  wounds,  and  with  scarcely  a  breath  of  life  in 
him  a  few  weeks  since  near  New  York." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHIXA.  29 

At  the  mention  of  New  York  a  smile  of  mingled  pleasure 
and  pain  flitted  over  the  doctor's  face. 

-  Do  you  know  New  York,  doctor  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  Do  I  know  New  York  ?  "  iterated  the  doctor.  "  Why, 
I  was  born  there,  I  have  lived  there  two- thirds  of  my  hie— do 
I  know  New  York  ?  Well,  no.  I  did  know  it  but  l"  question 
if  I  shall  ever  know  it  again  ;  ever  say  •  How  are  you  ?'  to 
any  of  my  many  friends  there." 

And  his  voice  grew  more  and  more  sad  as  he  concluded 
with  a  deep-drawn  sigh. 

Young  Jack  was  touched. 

He  thought  that  he  would   cheer  the  doctor  up. 

"  You  don't  like  your  quarters  here,  doctor  ?  " 

"  No." 

"Why  haven't  you  tried  to  escape,  then  ?  " 

The  doctor  shook  his  bead  gravely,  as  he  answered— 

"No  chance  of  that,  you  will  see  by  and  bye.  They 
watch  me  for  the  same  reason  that  they  saved  my  life, 
when  they  murdered  all  the  poor  crew  and  passengers  on 
board  our  ship." 

"Why?" 

**  Because,  as  a  doctor,  I  am  useful  to  them." 

"I  see." 

"They  watch  me  night  and  day.  That  little  French- 
man  " 

•*  Hvpolite  Potiron,"  said  young  Jack. 

"YesL" 

"What  of  him?" 

"  He  spoilt  my  chance,  if  ever  I  had  ones." 

"How?" 

"By  his  clumsy  attempt  to  poison  or  drug  the  whole 
ship's  company." 

*•  Why  was  he  spared,  then  ?  "  asked  young  Jack. 

"  Because,  as  a  cook,  he  was  a 
crew  of  this  slaughter  house.  But  he  was  too  precipitate  ; 
he  soon  grew  impatient  of  his  bondage,  and  he  was  clumsy 
in  his  attempts  to  get  free  of  it.  He  dosed  them  so  awk- 
wardly that  it  was  discovered  at  once,  or  near'y  so." 

"And  how  was  it  discovered,  doctor?" 

"  By  them  all  growing  bad  of  the  same  complaint  at  once. 
A  little  more  patience,  and  the  vessel  would  have  been  in 
our  hands — drifted,  in  spite  of  them,  in  the  hands  of  the 
;_:-;:. :.-.  ' 


30  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  I  see.*' 

"  And  so  there  would  have  been  an  end  to  these  wretches, 
whose  sole  delight,  apparently,  is  bloodshed — useless 
brutality — slaughter." 

Just  then,  Harry  Girdwood  began  to  talk  in  his  sleep  and 
to  grow  restless. 

The  doctor,  with  his  finger  on  his  lip,  motioned  Jack  to 
silence. 

"  He  is  feverish  to-night,  but  unless  I  am  deceived,  he  will 
be  better  by  the  morning." 

"  You  think  so  ?  "  said  young  Jack,  eagerly. 

"Yes." 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

Young  Jack  withdrew  to  the  other  end  of  the  cabin,  and 
sat  down  to  reflect  upon  the  doctor's  words. 

For  Jack,  be  it  understood,  had  made  up  his  mind  that  he 
would  by  some  means  or  other  leave  the  dreadful  pirate 
ship. 

"  If  that  clumsy  little  Frenchman  so  nearly  accomplished 
it,"  he  said  to  himself,  "  surely,  with  care,  it  could  be 
brought  off  by  the  doctor." 

And  by  degrees  this  became  his  one  fixed  idea. 

He  fixed  that  part  in  his  head,  and  from  that  moment  he 
set  himself  steadily  and  systematically  to  work  to  find  out 
the  best  means  to  accomplish  it. 

"  I  must  be  more  cautious  than  old  Potiron,"  he  said  to 
himself.  "  I  won't  make  a  step  unless  I  have  the  doctor's 
advice  and  consent.  His  coolness  and  and  shrewdness, 
with  a  little  dash  of  my  desperation,  would  be  sure  to  manage 
it.  But  I  must  not  think  of  doing  any  thing  for  the  present." 

He  could  not  conscientiously  set  to  work  actively  in  this 
matter  until  Harry  Girdwood  was  able  to  accompany  him. 

Once  let  his  young  comrade  be  on  the  fair  road  to  re- 
covery, and  something  should  be  done. 

So  he  resolved. 

Now,  therefore,  he  had  a  double  motive  for  desiring  his 
comrade's  speedy  restoration  to  health. 

And  so  he  watched  anxiously  every  phase  in  Harry's  ill- 
ness, and  followed  the  good  doctor's  movements — aye,  even 
the  expression  of  his  open  countenance,  with  almost  breath- 
less interest. 

The  doctor  saw  this. 

And  seeing,  he  managed  to  profit  by  it. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  31 

He  invited  young  Jack's  attention — explained  to  him 
learnedly  the  nature  of  the  evils  he  had  to  fight  against  in  the 
treatment  of  his  patient. 

In  this  way  be  contrived  to  keep  young  Jack  down  in  the 
cabin  for  the  present,  and  out  of  harm's  way. 


CHAPTER  VIL 

A  SPLIT  IN   THE  CAMP. 

MEANWHILE  some  other  matters  transpired  on  deck  upon 
which  young  Jack  Harkaway  had  by  no  means  reckoned. 

Toro  was,  from  the  first  moment  that  he  saw  oar  young 
hero,  all  agog  for  settling  him  at  once. 

**  Hang  him  up  to  the  yardarm,"  suggested  the  amiable  ex- 
brigand,  "  or  drop  him  over  the  ship's  side  with  a  six-pound 
shot  tied  to  his  heels,  and  let  us  get  rid  of  the  vermin." 

"Why  be  in  such  a  hurry?0  asked  Hunston. 

"Because  I  loathe  the  sight  of  his  face  and  the  sound  of 
his  voice," 

fa  So  do  I." 

"  Then  why  not  make  an  end  of  it  at  once  ?  n 

-  Because  we  may  make  better  use  of  him." 

*•  Bah !  These  Harkaways  have  as  many  fives  as  a  cat 
They  have  the  devil's  luck  and  then-  own  too.  Hell  bring 
some  mischief  to  us  unless  we  ate  caietuL'* 

-  That's  just  what  I  say.     Let  us  be  careful " 
"And  begin  by  cutting  the  brat's-  throat." 

"  Not  quite  that." 

"What  then  ?" 

**  By  squeezing  particulars  out  of  him  about  his  father — 
about  their  ship — find  out  its  destination,  and  watch  for 
them?" 

-  What  then?" 

Hunston  stared  at  him  contemptuously. 
"What then!    Can  you  ask?" 
-I  do  ask.- 

"  Once  found  out,  we  could,  perhaps,  get  the  whole  of 
them  into  our  power ;  think  of  that." 


That  would  be  glorious ! n  he  exclaimed. 


,3  2  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AMD  HIS  SON  '.S 

"  Of  course  * 

"  Suppose  we  have  him  up  and  make  him  tell   at  once  ? " 

Hunston  shook  his  head. 

"  No  good." 

"  Why  ? " 

"  He  wouldn't  tell." 

"  How  do  you  mean  to  get  at  it,  then  ?  " 

"  By  slow  degrees.  The  boy  will  let  it  fall  if  we  only  al- 
low him  to  brag  a  bit.  He  can't  help  bragging  ;  it's  in  the 
Harkaway  blood,  and  then  we  shall  know  all  we  want  to 
know." 

"Toro  frowned. 

"  I  could  name  a  way  of  getting  to  know  what  you  want 
at  once." 

"  Indeed." 

"  Yes." 

"  Out  with  it  then,"  said  Hunston,  impatiently,  "  or  1  shall 
begin  to  think  that  you  are  tinged  with  the  weakness  of  the 
Harkaways." 

"  What  ? " 

"  Brag." 

Toro  swore  a  fierce  oath,  and  drew  his  knife  as  though 
he  meant  to  carve  up  Hunston  for  his  temerity  without  delay. 

But  Hunston  feared  him  not 

He  only  laughed  derisively  at  him. 

"Give  me  the  boy  for  ten  minutes,"  said  Toro,  finding  his 
companion  in  crime  was  not  frightened. 

"  What  then  ?  " 

"  I'll  pledge  my  life  that  he'll  make  a  clean  breast  of  all 
he  knows," 

"  Pah !  or  lose  his  own  life,  I  suppose." 

"  No," 

"  I  say  yes." 

"  I  swear  he  should  tell  all,  and  in  less  than  ten  minutes. 
Hunston,  you  even  treat  my  suggestions  with  contempt." 

"  Not  more  than  they  merit,"  retorted  the  other. 

Toro's  eyes  flashed  lightning,  and  he  bit  his  lip  till  the 
blood  came. 

Few  men  but  Hunston  would  have  said  this  much  with 
impunity. 

"  Give  the  brat  over  to  me,"  he  said  controlling  his  rage, 
"  and  you  shall  see/' 

"Hark  you,  Toro,"  said  Hunston.  deliberately,  "to  give 


ADVENTURES  AV  CHINA.  33 

the  boy  VAX  to  your  keeping  would  be  about  as  sensible  as 
tn  drop  a  jewel  coffer  into  the  sea,  because  I  couldn't  find  out 
tite  secret  to  open  it." 

u  I  tell  you,"  returned  Hunston,  "  that  you  know  as  little 
of  that  boy's  temper  as  of  your  own.  Why,  he  would  never 
speak." 

"Bah!" 

"Never.  You  would  tear  him  limb  from  limb.  The 
cruellest  tortures  could  not  make  him  wag  his  obstinate 
tongue  unless  he  chose.  He  has  too  much  of  his  father  in  him. 
Once  rouse  their  vanity  in  this  particular,  and  he  would  die 
like  a  young  martyr  at  the  stake." 

"  Martyr !  stuff'!     You're  mad,  Hunston ! " 

"And  you,  Toro,  are  a  hot-headed  fool ! " 

And  so,  with  these  mutual  and  frank  expressions  of  dis- 
pleasure, the  companions  in  villany  separated. 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

"I  must  look,  after  that  Italian  idiot,"  said  Hunston  to 
himself.  "Hell  spoil  all  else  for  the  sake  of  killing  the 
boy." 

****** 

"Vain  ass ! "  muttered  Toro,  as  he  was  left  alone  "  Since 
he  will  not  give  his  help  or  approval,  it  shall  be  done  without 
him.  Ill  see  the  rest  of  them,  and  hear  what  they  have  to 
to  say  about  it,  for  the  life  of  that  boy  I  will  have." 

He  walked  aft  in  high  dudgeon,  and  ran  across  Robert 
Emmerson,  who  was  engaged  in  earnest  conversation  with 
Von  Koppenhaagen. 

"  Ah,  Emmerson,"  said  Toro,  "  did  you  know  that  we  have 
bagged  a  prize  ?  " 

"Which?" 

«  Young  Jack  Harkawav,  to  be  sure." 

-Stale  news," replied  Emmerson;  "I've  seen  him." 

•  Vat ! "  ejaculated  Von  Koppenhaagen,  «  young  Jag  Bar- 
gavay ! — Ter  tuyvel  I w 

Emmerson  laughed  at  the  Dutchman's  vehement  expression. 

"  Not  quite  the  devil,  Kop,"  said  he.  w  Only  one  of  his 
imps." 

"Hisimbs!  I  know  it  veil  Dat  ist  zer  goot!"  cried 
the  Dutchman.  "  He  make  us  to  danze  in  the  der  Bowery 
mit  his  shrink  droo  der  hole  in  der  walL" 

"  Perhaps  it  wasn't  him,"  said  Emmerson. 
$ 


34  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"  Soh  !  ja  wohl !  veil,  he  make  us  to  danze ;  ve  shall  make 
him  to  danze  upon  noding." 

"  May  he  die  of  the  caper  in  his  heel/'  said  Emmerson, 
laughing. 

"  Ja,  ja !  "  cried  Von  Koppenhaagen,  "  dat  ist  zo.  Der 
caber  in  his  heel  is  ver'  fonny." 

"I'll  go  bail,"  replied  Emmerson,  drily,  "  that  the  boy 
won't  see  the  joke  of  it" 

Toro  looked  on  and  smiled. 

Emmerson  and  the  Dutchman  were  apparently  just  in  the 
humour  to  work  with  him  and  thwart  Hunston. 

"  Now  the  next  thing  is  to  inform  some  of  the  crew.  Once 
let  them  know  that  this  boy's  father  led  the  attack  on  them 
• — and  this  is  sure,  for  Harkaway  is  the  master  spirit  in  every 
daring  enterprise  that  takes  place  near  him — and  they  won't 
stand  any  nonsense.  I  thirst  to  see  his  carcase  dangling  in 

the  sun." 

****** 

He  sought  out  for  his  present  purpose  an  Armenian,  called 
Kappa,  who  was  a  petty  officer  of  the  pirates,  and  just  the 
man  he  wanted. 

It  needed  very  little  to  incite  the  crew  against  young  Jack 
Harkaway. 

The  bare  mention  of  the  fact  that  his  father  was  the  prime 
mover  in  the  attack  upon  them  was  quite  sufficient. 

They  called  a  meeting  upon  deck  at  once,  and  a  council 
was  held  as  to  the  kind  of  death  that  our  young  hero  was  to 
suffer. 

Thus  the  matter  was  taken  completely  out  of  the  hands 
of  Emmerson,  Toro,  and  Von  Koppenhaagen. 

"We  have  decided, gentlemen,"  said  the  Armenian,  who 
was  as  full  of  grace  as  a  courtier,  instead  of  being  coarse 
and  brutal,  like  the  great  majority  of  his  comrades. 

"  What  ?  "  demanded  Robert  Emmerson. 

"  How  the  boy  is  to  die." 

"  Might  you  not  have  consulted  me  ?  " 

"  Pardon  me,"  returned  this  genteel  pirate,  suavely,  "  it  is 
our  prisoner." 

"  And  ours  too." 

"  Nay." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  Emmerson,  "  it  is  idle  losing  one's  temper 
over  a  question  of  form.  What  do  you  propose  doing  with 
young  Harkaway  ?  " 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  35 

u  Hanging  him  up." 

"Yes." 

••  But  not  as  you  proposed.  We  mean  to  suspend  him  to 
the  yardarm  by  the  ankles,  and  use  him  as  a  target." 

Protean  Bob  smiled  grimly  at  this. 

••There  is  some  fancy  about  that  notion,"  said  he, "and 
I  am  with  you." 

A  party  was  sent  in  search  of  young  Jack,  and  soon  it 
transpired  that  the  prisoner  was  in  the  cabin  with  the  Ameri- 
can doctor. 

Six  men,  headed  by  the  Armenian  officer,  Kappa,  trotted 
off  down  the  companion  ladder,  to  find  themselves  face  to 
lace  with  young  Harkaway  himself. 

"  Come,"  said  Kappa,  clapping  him  on  the  shoulder. 

"  Where?  "  asked  young  Jack. 

"On  deck." 

The  boy  felt  just  a  little  bit  uncomfortable. 

"  What  do  you  want  with  him  ?  "  demanded  the  doctor. 

"  Pardon  me,  medico,"  returned  the  ever  polite  pirate,  "  that 
is  our  business." 

"  In  that  case,"  said  the  American  doctor,  coolly,  "  the 
boy  remains  here." 

"Who  says  so?" 

U  J  >» 

"  Are  you  sure,  doctor,"  said  the  polite  Armenian,  "  that 
you  are  in  your  full  senses  ?  " 

-  Quite," 

"Bah!" 

His  politeness  momentarily  gave  way  to  this  slightly 
contemptuous  expression,  and  he  motioned  to  his  men  to 
bear  young  Jack  off. 

But  this  was  not  altogether  easy  to  do. 

Young  Jack  was  slippery  as  an  eeL 

Down  he  wriggled  on  to  the  ground,  toppled  over  two  or 
three  of  the  ruffians,  and  scrambling  through  the  confused 
heap,  he  bounded  over  to  the  doctor's  side. 

"  Come,  doctor,"  said  the  Armenian,  "  don't  you  interfere. 
We  wish  to  treat  you  with  every  respect,  but  if  you  do  not 
stand  aside,  we  shall  have  to  be  very  rough  with  you." 

"Begone!" 

"  Come,  come." 

They  advanced  menacingly. 

u  Hark  you,"  said  the  doctor,  "  if  you  go  now,  at  once,  I 


36  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

will  say  nothing  of  this  outrage.  Linger  a  moment  longer, 
and  I  shall  complain  to  the  captain." 

"  What  ?  "  cried  one  of  the  Lascars,  "  does  the  old  medico 
presume  to  threaten  us  ?  " 

"  Down  with  him  !  "  cried  the  rest. 

Now  the  polite  Armenian  tried  to  stay  them.     But  in  vain. 

Knives  were  drawn,  and  ugly  words  were  bandied,  and  the 
pirates  moved  to  their  destined  victims. 

"  Back!  "  said  the  doctor,  waving  his  hand. 

And  they  instinctively  stopped  at  the  word. 

"  You  see  this  little  phial,"  said  the  doctor,  calmly  ;  "  that 
contains  what  would  end,  not  merely  your  wretched  lives,  but 
those  of  the  whole  ship.  I  have  but  to  let  it  fall,  and  you 
are  annihilated.  In  less  than  two  minutes  there  would  not 
remain  a  fragment  of  your  miserable  carcases  or  a  plank  of 
the  ship." 

The  men  shrank  back  aghast. 

"  Begone !  " 

It  was  a  sight  to  see  those  bold  bullies,  with  blanched 
cheeks  and  quaking  limbs,  retreat  before  the  stern  old  Ameri- 
can, and  crawl  up  the  ladder  out  of  the  way. 

Young  Jack  turned  to  the  old  American  and  embraced 
him. 

"  Oh,  sir,"  he  cried,  "  how  can  I  ever  thank  you  enough  ? 
You  have  saved  my  life." 

The  old  American  patted  his  head  kindly. 

"  I  ask  no  more  than  to  have  saved  you,  my  boy,"  he 
said,  "  I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  I  am  gratified.  Do  you 
want  to  gratify  me  now  in  return  ?  " 

"  Tell  me  how  I  can,  sir,"  he  replied,  eagerly. 

"  By  heeding  my  counsels  in  future." 

"  I  will." 

The  old  doctor  regarded  the  boy  with  a  curious  expression 
for  a  few  moments. 

He  was  studying  his  character  in  his  face,  and  he  soon 
made  up  his  mind. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  he  said,  "  I'll  trust  you,  Jack.  If  ever  I  knew 
a  noble  boy — well,  well,  I  mustn't  compliment  you.  I  shall 
make  you  vain." 

Two  days  elapsed  without  adventure. 

Harry  Girdwood  mended  rapidly. 

In  eight  days,  according  to  the  worthy  old  doctor,  he  would 
be  fit  to  get  about. 


ADVfJiTURES  IN  CHINA.  37 

This  was  grand  news  to  both  the  boys. 

Young  Jack  was  full  of  fancies  and  wild  schemes  for 
escaping,  and  he  felt  that,  backed  by  Harry  Giidwood.be 
should  be  able  to  bring  one  of  his  daring  and  dangerous 
plans  to  a  head. 

On  board  the  pirate  ship  Jack  and  his  American  friend 
lived  quietly  enough  for  a  few  days. 

No  other  attempt  was  made  by  Toro  or  his  vile  ^"^"tnr 
to  get  possession  of  the  boy,  who  from  that  time  lived  at 
peace  in  the  surgeon's  cabin. 

One  morning  Jack  and  the  doctor  were  startled  from  their 
sleep  by  the  sound  of  a  cannon  bong  fired  overhead. 

The  doctor  went  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of  it,  and  he 
dacuveied  that  they  were  signalling  a  small  ship. 

-Another  victim,"  said  the  doctor,  with  a  sigh;  -  more 
prey  for  these  insatiable  murderers.  Brutal  ruffians !  When 
ciD  these  r~—*-  of  lilniulihi  il  and  ••iii  ill  murder  cove 
to  an  end?" 

The  doctor  and  young  Jack  watched  the  strange  ship  with 
considerable  eagerness,  and  they  were  filled  with  vain  re- 
grets when  they  saw  it  hired  to  its  doom. 

"  It  would  be  a  Christian  work  to  warn  them,"  said  the 
old  doctor 

«  It  would  indeed,7'  repfied  young  Jack, "  but  how  ?  w 

Plan  after  plan  was  thought  of  and  dismissed,  for  the 
simple  reason  that  it  would  be  dangerous  to  them,  and  per- 
haps risk  the  safety  of  those  whom  they  wished  to  preserve. 

- 1  have  a  plan,"  said  young  Jack  after  a  time. 

"What  is  rt?" 

**  We  could  write  them  a  letter,"  be  began. 

M  Of  course,"  said  the  doctor,  interrupting  him  with  a  sad 
smile,  "  we  could  write  a  letter,  but  the  postage  presents 
t&me  difficulty." 

"  Don't  be  impatient,  doctor;  I'm  coming  to  that." 

-  What  would  you  do?* 

-I  have  read  of  shipwrecked  people  telling  the  world  oc 
their  troubles  by  means  of  a  letter  fastened  in  a  bottle. ' 

"They  might  not  pick  it  up,"  said  the  doctor. 

'True,  sir,  but  on  the  other  hand  they  might. 

7he  doctor  brooded  long  and  earnestly  over  it. 
•perhaps  it  is  worth  a  chance,"  he  said. 

And  so  they  made  up  their  minds  to  try  it. 

Bat  Just  as  they  were  making  their  preparations,  young  Jack 


38  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SO  ATS 

discovered  that  the  strange  ship  had  lowered  a  boat,  and  was 
going  to  send  some  men  on  board. 

"  Now  they  will  discover  all  about  it  for  themselves,"  said 
the  doctor. 
."  Do  you  think  so  ?"  asked  young  Jack. 

"  They  must  be  blind  as  bats  not  to  discover  all  about  it," 
said  the  doctor, 

"  Half  a  glance  ought  to  tell  them  as  plainly  as  we  could." 

"  It  ought  to." 

"At  all  events,"  said  the  American  doctor,  "  we  may  have 
an  opportunity  of  putting  them  upon  their  guard  once  they 
come  on  board.  The  only  thing  is  to  act  with  the  greatest 
possible  prudence,  and  then  we  may  be  of  some  good  to 
them." 

"  You  may  count  upon  my  caution,  doctor,"  responded 
young  Jack,  earnestly. 

"  I  do." 

And  the  boy  was  fully  resolved  to  take  the  old  gentle- 
man's advice  before  he  made  the  least  step  in  the  matter. 


Not  very  long  after  this  the  boat  from  the  strange  ship 
pulled  alongside  the  "  Flowery  Land,"  and  the  officer  in 
command  of  the  boat  came  on  board. 

Young  Jack  could  not  repress  his  curiosity. 

At  all  hazards  he  determined  to  learn  all  he  could. 

He  crept  up  the  companion  ladder  on  to  the  deck,  and 
profited  by  the  general  attention  of  the  pirate  crew  being 
engaged  by  the  new-comer  to  get  close  up. 

And  then  he  perceived  that  the  officer  in  question  was 
dressed  in  the  loose  trousers  and  gaiters,  such  as  are  worn 
by  the  inhabitants  of  some  of  the  Chinese  islands,  but  his 
countenance  was  rather  of  the  European  cast  than  of  the 
dull-faced,  heavy-eyed  Oriental. 

"  He  looks  almost  like  an  Englishman,"  thought  young 
Jack,  in  some  surprise. 

And  this  was  in  some  measure  confirmed  the  next  moment 
by  hearing  the  officer  address  them  in  his  language. 

"  This  is  the    '  Flowery  Land,'  I  believe  ?  "  he  said. 

"  Yes,"  replied  one  ot  the  Lascar  officers. 

"  And  is  commanded  by  Captain  Lin-Van-San  ?  " 

"  Yes," 

"I  have  a  letter  for  his  excellency.'' 


ADl'EXTURES  AV  CHINA.  39 

"We/-/"  thought  young  Jack,  "that's  a  rum  g3,  railing  a 
pirate  his  excellency.  What  next  ?  " 

The  nex*  surprised  him  even  more. 

"  His  excellency  will  grant  you  an  audience,  I  dare  say," 
said  the  Lascar  lieutenant. 

"  That  is  my  wish." 

"  Give  me  your  letter " 

"  I  cannot  do  that ;  it  is  against  orders.  I  had  particular 
instructions  to  give  it  into  the  hands  of  his  excellency  the 
captain,  and  none  else." 

The  Lascar  lieutenant  smiled. 

"Very  well,  I  wttl  seek  the  captain  and  ascertain  his 
pleasure." 

Now  the  officer  from  the  boat  was  in  luck. 

His  excellency  the  Captain  Ian- Van-San  graciously  deigned 
to  put  in  an  appearance. 

The  captain  of  the  "  Flowery  Land  "  was  a  formidable- 
looking  fellow. 

He  stood  nearly  six  feet  high,  was  broad-shouldered,  in  pro- 
portion, and  was  fierce  in  aspect. 

He  wore  around  his  middle  a  broad  sash  of  grey  crape,  in 
which  were  stuck  enough  knives  and  pistols  to  stock  a  small 
armourer  s  store. 

The  captain  did  not  wear  his  hair  in  Chinese  fashion, 
that  is,  shaved  off  the  front  of  the  head,  and  gathered  into  a 
long  pigtail  ;  he  let  his  hair  grow  like  the  Europeans,  and  this 
with  the  Chinese  is  usually  a  sign  of  mourning. 

The  officer  from  the  boat  made  a  profound  obeisance  as 
the  dread  captain  advanced. 

"  You  bring  me  a  letter,"  said  he,  in  good  English. 

**  Yes,  your  excellency,"  replied  the  strange  officer. 

"  From  whom  ?  " 

"  A  friend  and  humble  servant  of  your  excellency,**  was 
the  reply. 

"  His'  name  ?  " 

"  Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming.     It  is  of  high  importance." 

'•  Give  it  to  me  ?  " 

The  captain  took  the  letter,  and  handed  it  to  the  Lascar 
officer  who  had  been  to  announce  the  visit  from  the  strange 
vessel 

"Read." 

The  officer  bowed,  opened  the  letter,  and  read  aloud  as 
follows— 


40  JACK  h-ARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON  Z 

"The  '  Franz  Josef '  will  leave  upon  the  twenty- ci^d,  and 
the  cargo  will  be  rich.  The  '  Flowery  Land  '  is  too  well  known 
to  venture  about  our  latitudes,  but  let  your  othtr  vessel  be 
on  the  watch.  The  '  Flowery  Land  '  is  watched  for.  Be  upon 
your  guard  j  a  British  ship  is  on  the  look-out  for  you.  Be- 
ware of  her.  The  accursed  British  are  a  terror  to  the  rovers 
of  the  sea.  Avoid  them  as  you  would  the  plague.  They 
have  pushed  the  emperor  to  aid  in  the  pursuit  of  the 
'  Flowery  Land.'  Need  I  say  how  important  it  is  that  you 
should  be  quick? 

"  Your  devoted  servant  to  command, 

"  BlGA-ENG-MlNG-MlNG." 

The  captain  frowned. 

"  These  British  are  very  meddlesome." 

"  They  are,  sir." 

"  And  is  that  all  ? '' 

"  No,  sir  ;  there  is  yet  a  postcript  at  the  end.** 

"  Go  on." 

"  The  postscript  says  that  besides  carrying  a  regular  captain, 
the  '  Franz  Josef '  will  bear  the  owner  of  the  plantation  of 
whom  mention  has  been  frequently  made." 

"I  remember  him  well,"  said  the  captain;  "he  has  a 
wooden  leg." 

Young  Jack  started. 

He  thought  of  his  poor  old  tutor,  Isaac  Mole. 

"  Go  on." 

"  It's  more  than  likely,  too,  that  two  rich  Americans  will 
be  of  the  party,  and  an  Englishman  so  wealthy  that  he  can 
pay  a  princely  ransom." 

"  He  should  have  given  all  their  names,"  said  the  captain. 

"  One  moment,  captain,"  said  the  Lascar,  "  he  does  ;  here 
are  names,  but  I  can  scarcely  read  them.  The  Americans 
are  called  Jep — Jep — no,  not  Jep,  Jefferson — I  see,  and 
Magog  Brand." 

Young  Jack  could  scarcely  refrain  from  crying  out  aloud. 

"The  Englishmen  are  called  Harvey  and  Jack  Harkaway," 
pursued  the  lieutenant,  "  and  both  are  desperate  men,  but 
rich,  and  the  men  are  worth  more  than  the  whole  cargo  of 
the  '  Franz  Josef,'  by  reason  of  the  ransom  that  they  can  be 
made  to  disgorge  if  they  are  handled  judiciously.  All  this 
your  excellency  can  get  confirmed  by  either  of  my  friends 
whom  I  am  given  to  understand  have  found  you  by  now» 
either  Ostani  or  Toro." 


ADVENTURES  AV  CHINA.  41 

•Good,"  said  the  captain,  "  call  Toro." 

And  then  the  burly  Italian  came  slouching  along  the  deck  to 
where  the  party  stood  around  the  commander  of  the  pirates. 

"  Toro." 

"  Captain." 

"  Do  you  know  these  names  ?  Tell  him,  Salvator,  I  can 
scarce  pronounce  those  barbarous  names." 

"Harvey?" 

"Yes." 

"Harkaway?" 

"Yes." 

"Magog  Brand?" 

"Yes." 

"Jefferson?" 

"  Yes." 

And  then  the  ex-brigand,  with  a  fierce  oath,  ejaculated— 

"  Yes,  indeed  I  do  know  them  ;  and  what  of  all  these 
captain  ?  " 

"Our  good  friend  writes  us  glorious  news  from  Foo- 
Chow." 

Toro's  eyes  glistened  as  he  said — 

"  From  Biga " 

"  Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming.  Yes,  a  grand  prize  is  to  fall  into 
our  hands  shortly.  He  writes  to  let  us  know." 

"Good,  good,"  exclaimed  Toro,  rubbing  his  hands 
gleefully  ,  "very  good ;  and  is  this  all  that  Biga-Eng,  as  you 
call  him,  savs  ?  " 

"Yes."    ' 

"Where  is  his  letter?" 

"  Here,"  returned  the  Lascar  lieutenant 

He  had  put  it  down  for  a  moment  on  a  big  sea-chest  which 
stood  beside  him,  and  now  it  was  gone. 

In  the  general  interest  which  the  conversation  had  excited 
no  one  had  observed  a  hand  steal  along  the  top  of  the  chest 
and  withdraw  the  letter. 

Nor  had  they  seen  the  stealer  creep  on  hands  and  knees 
from  his  lurking  place. 

All  that  they  knew  now  was  that  the  letter  was  gone — over- 
ooard,  they  imagined. 

So  was  the  audacious  young  Jack. 

But  they  did  not  know  that 

Luckily  for  him  he  had  gone  as  he  came — unseen. 


4.2  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  Doctor,  doctor !  "  cried  the  boy,  sliding  down  the  com- 
panion ladder. 

"  What  is  it  I "  echoed  the  old  American,  looking  up  quite 
startled. 

"  See  here." 

And  Jack  handed  him  his  booty. 

"  What's  this  ?  " 

"  A  letter ;  this  ship  is  the  pirate's  consort." 

"  Never ! " 

"  It  is  indeed." 

n  And  this  letter " 

"Announces  when  their  next  victim  will  fall  into  their 
hands ;  but  oh,  doctor,"  added  the  boy,  with  a  burst  of  feel- 
ing, "only  fancy,  my  father,  my  uncle^  and  several  of  our 
friends  will  be  on  board." 

The  doctor  started. 

He  eyed  young  Jack  sharply. 

He  feared  that  he  was  going  mad,  that  the  exciting  events 
had  deranged  his  intellect. 

"  Read  the  letter,  sir,"  cried  young  Jack  Harkaway,  "  learn 
for  yourself." 

The  doctor  did  so. 

"  You  are  right,  my  boy,"  he  said,  gravely ; "  this  is  sad 
news  indeed,*' 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

MANDARIN    MOLE    AT    HOME, 

MANDARIN  MOLE  appeared  likely  to  fall  into  trouble. 

The  Chinese  are  notoriously  superstitious,  and  their  super- 
natural fancies  take  some  few  peculiar  flights- 

Their  national  weakness  is  a  belief  in  Feng-shuy,  who  m^y 
be  denned  as  their  god  of  luck,  and  has  also  some  control 
over  the  wind. 

To  propitiate  this  deity,  the  Chinese  perpetrate  all  kinds 
of  wild  extravagances, 

For  instance,  they  will  only  build  their  houses  facing 
certain  directions  ;  and  if  examined  closely  into,  it  will  fre- 
quently be  discovered  that  sanitary  laws  are  mysteriously 
at  work  in  their  ostensible  purpose  of  invoking  the  protecting 
aid  of  Feng-shuy. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  43 

It  was  in  this  way,  however,  that  Mandarin  Mole  contrived 
most  unluckily  to  get  into  trouble. 

He  built  up  a  low  house,  or  perhaps,  more  correctly  speak- 
ing, a  hut,  upon  his  property,  and  whether,  being  on  the  hill- 
side, he  had  in  some  strange  way  worked  in  opposition  to 
the  inexplicable  and  inscrutable  laws  of  Feng-shuyism,  it  is 
not  easy  to  say. 

However,  the  day  following  the  completion  of  this  building, 
a  very  remarkable  accident  occurred. 

Mr.  Mole  was  seated  at  breakfast  with  Dick  Harvey, 
Chloe.  Jack  Harkaway,  and  his  wife  and  little  Emily. 

Mr.  Mole  was  reading  a  native  newspaper,  or  was  pretend- 
ing to  read  it,  for  he  was  a  more  arrant  humbug  than  ever,  and 
he  used  to  get  coached  up  in  the  meaning  of  the  newspaper, 
and  recite  it  off  from  memory,  pretending  all  the  while  to 
decipher  the  Chinese  characters  as  easily  as  English. 

Monday  burst  into  their  presence,  closely  followed  by  his 
fellow  darkey,  Sunday. 

"  Oh,  Massa  Mole  !  Massa  Mole ! " 

Mr.  Mole  looked  up. 

"  Oh,  brudder  Mole ! "  ejaculated  Sunday, 

44  What  is  it?" 

"  Oh,  such  a  accident,  brudder  Mole,"  cried  Sunday. 

**  An  accident,  Sunday?     Surely " 

*'  Oh,  dere  is " 

«  What?" 

*'  You  know  dat  new  house  ?  " 

"  The  new  house  ? " 

-Yes." 

"Oh,  brudder  Mole,  brudder  Mole ! " 

Mr.  Mole  began  to  grow  impatient. 

"  What  is  it  ?     Why  can't  you  speak  out  ?  " 

"  Don't  you  get   'patient,  brudder  Mole,"  said  Sunday. 

84  No,  sar,"  said  Monday  •  "  you'll  learn  all  'bout  it  soon 
enough." 

"  What  ? " 

"  Too  soon." 

"  I  wish  you  would '* 

"  Oh,  dat  new  house." 

"  What  of  it  ?  " 

"  Smashed  up,"  replied  Monday,  with  great  grayity. 

Mandarin  Mole  sprang  up  in  his  chair,  and  stamped  his 
wooden  !eg  vehemently  upon  the  ground. 


44  JA  CK  HA RKA  WA  Y  AND  JJJS  SON 'S 

"  My  new  house  smashed  up  ? "  ejaculated  Mole. 

"  Yes,  sar." 

"  Yes,  brudder  Mole." 

"  It  is,  sar,"  added  Monday.  "  Smashed — broke  up — 
chawed  up,  sar — pulverised — demolished  !  " 

"  Well,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  staggered  by  the  blow  ;  "  my 
newly-built  house  medolished — I  mean  domelished — tut,  tut, 
confound  it,  I  mean,  demolished  !  " 

"Got  your  tongue  in  a  knot?"  suggested  Harvey  chuck- 
ling. 

"  Don't  joke,  Harvey,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  reprovingly.  "  It  is 
no  joking  matter." 

Harvey  looked  very  serious  at  this. 

"  Right,  sir,"  he  said,  "  it  is  not.  You  should  have  taken 
more  water  with  it." 

"  With  what  ? " 

"  Your  grog,  sir." 

Mr.  Mole  was  utterly  outraged   at  this. 

Before  the  ladies,  too. 

Monstrous. 

He  mentally  vowed  to  store  up  a  heavy  debt  of  vengeance 
against  that  scoundrel  Dick  Harvey. 

It  should  be  none  the  less  certain  or  severe  because  he 
was  forced  to  conceal  his  anger  now. 

None. 


"Why,  brudder  Mole,"  explained  Sunday,  "  the  fact  is,  dat 
Monday  and  me  was  walking  ober  dere  to  get  to  work,  when 
we  see  a  lot  of  dem  fellars  bolt  away  like  scared  venison." 

'  Deer,"  suggested  Mandarin  Mole. 

'  Well,  deer ;  ain't  deer  and  venison  all  the  same  ?  " 

'  Yes,  but " 

'  Don't  interrupt,  brudder  Mole,"  said  Sunday,  loftily. 

'Well?" 

'  Well,  we  see  dem  fellars  flying  off  like  flashes  of  greased 
lightning  before  we  see  nothinkelse,  and  den  all  of  asuddink 
instead  of  the  house  we  see  nothink  but  a  blank  space  stand- 
ing up." 

"Lor'1" 

"  Good  gracious  me !  " 

"  Are  you  sure  you  are  right  ? ''  said  Mr.  Mole. 

"  Certain." 


A  OVERTURES  IN  CHINA.  45 

"  I  can  place  implicit  belief  on  them  for  one,"  said  Har- 
vey; "their  keen  sight  is  really  marvellous." 

"  You  think  so,  Harvey  ?  "  said  Mandarin  Mole. 

«  Decidedly.  Who  but  they  could  have  seen  a  blank  space 
standing  up  ?  " 

«  Who  indeed  ?  "  added  Harkaway,  slily. 

Poor  Jack ! 

Poor  bereaved  father. 

It  was  the  first  word  of  light-heartedness  that  they  had 
heard  him  utter  since  the  fatal  sea  fight  with  the  pirate  junk. 

"  And  the  house  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Mole.  "  What  has  become 
of  the  house?" 

"  On  de  ground,  brudder  Mole,"  answered  Sunday.  "  Eh, 
Monday?" 

"Yes,  all  daf  s  left  of  it,"  returned  Monday. 

'•But  now  tell  me,"  said  Mr.  Jfefferson.  "Just  a  word, 
Monday." 

"Yes,  sar." 

"Who  did  it?" 

44  Dem  damn  niggars,  sar." 

•  The  Chinese?" 

"Yes."1 

"  What  can  they  have  done  it  for  ?  " 

u  Perhaps,"  said  Magog  Brand,  "  it  is  something  connected 
with  their  religion  or  superstition." 

Mr.  Mole  listened  thoughtfully  till  now. 
rhen  he  spoke — 

"  I  think  not.     It  was  built  by  native  workmen." 

"True." 

"  And  if  they  had  found  any  thing  about  the  place  V.  Mch 
didn  't  agree  with  their  faith " 

"  Well,  but  it  may  have  interfered  with  their  notions  of 
what  was  right  for  their  Feng-shuy  fancies." 

"  I  shouldn't  be  at  all  surprised,"  said  Magog  Brand,  "  for 
they  are  a  very  wonderful  people,  and  there  is  no  getting  to 
the  bottom  of  their  fancies." 

The  party  then,  in  some  considerable  uneasiness,  were 
led  off  by  the  two  negroes  to  the  scene  of  the  outrage. 

They  were  right. 

The  house,  which  had  been  built  by  Isaac  Mole  as  a  store- 
house for  the  plantation,  was  utterly  demolished. 

There  lay  the  house,  which  had  taken  weeks  of  patient 
labor  to  construct — a  heap  of  ruins  upon  tile  ground. 


JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 


CHAPTER   IX. 

THE   CHINESE   SENTRY   THAT  MOUNTED   GUARD  OVER 
THE    RUINS. 

THEY  looked  on  aghast.  • 

Utterly  dismayed  at  the  ruin  before  them. 
'    What  was  to  be  done  ? 

They  held  a  general  consultation. 

"  I  think  we  ought  to  arm  Sunday  and  Monday,  and  let 
them  stand  upon  the  watch,"  proposed  Mr.  Jefferson. 

"  Why  ?  " 

"  They  are  sure  to  come  back." 

"  Were  they  in  numbers  ?  " 

"  Dere  was  a  big  crowd  of  dem,"  replied  Sunday. 

"  How  many  ?  " 

"  Can't  say." 

"  How  many  should  you  say  ? "  they  asked,  appealing  to 
Monday. 

"  Thirty  or  forty,"  was  Monday's  reply,  "  or  more." 

"  We  must  be  careful,"  said  Brand. 

"  There's  not  much  danger,"  said  Jefferson  ;  "  they  soon 
clear  off  when  they  smell  powder.  It  disagrees  with  them." 

"  I  have  seen  the  Chinese  fight  well  enough  at  times,"  said 
Magog  Brand. 

"  When  they  are  a  hundred  to  one,  I  suppose." 

"  Well,  yes." 

"  As  far  as  numbers  go  they  would  have  it  all  upon  their 
side,"  said  Harkaway  ;  "  so  let  me  recommend  prudence." 

"  Quite  right,  Harkaway,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  "  although,  to 
tell  the  truth,  if  I  were  to  follow  my  own  inclination,  I 
should  act  very  differently." 

"  And  what  would  you  do  ?  " 

"  Why,  mount  guard,"   replied  Mr.  Mole,  boldly. 

"Alone?" 

"  Yes,  alone  ! " 

And  he  gave  a  regular  swagger. 

To  see  Mandarin  Mole  just  then,  one  would  have  deemed 
him  capable  of  challenging  the  whole  province  single-handed. 

Dick  eyed  the  old  tutor  slily. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  47 

"Mr.  Mole  is  quite  right,"  said  he,  " and  my  opinion  is 
that  we  ought  not  to  stand  in  his  way." 

-True,  Harvey/'  said  Mole;  "I  feel  I  could  fight  fifty 
of  them  single-handed." 

a  Surely,  Harvey,  you  would  never  consent  to  it." 

"  Not  if  we  had  to  deal  with  any  ordinary  man,"  said  Dick, 
"  but  I  happen  to  know  Mr.  Mole  better  than  most  of  you.*' 

"Yes,  but  consider,  single-handed." 

"  No,  no,  Mr.  Mole  must  not  be  allowed  to  do  any  thing  so 
rash." 

Mr.  Mole  felt  that  this  was  a  safe  opportunity  for  him  to 
indulge  in  a  little  swagger  and  brag  without  running  any  risk. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  1  am  not  ungrateful  for  your 
affectionate  regard  and  consideration.  But  there  are  mo- 
ments when  one's  dignity  and  one's  manhood  revolt  at  coer- 
tion.  I  insist." 

He  regretted  this  speech  very  soon. 

Although  they  had  made  such  a  show  of  opposing  his  rash 
resolution,  they  now  one  and  all  gave  way,  and  turned  to  leave 
him  then  and  there  upon  his  solitary  watch. 

"  Where  are  you  going  ?  "  he  asked. 

"Home." 

"To  leave  you,"  added  Harkaway,  -  since  such  is  your 
wish." 

"Decidedly." 

-  Come  along,  then,"  said  little  Mr.  Brand,  falling  into  the 
joke.  "  But  stay,  one  word." 

"What  is  it?" 

"  Had  we  not  better  take  an  affectionate  farewell  of  Mr. 
Mole?" 

«  Farewell ! "  gasped  Mr.  Mole.    "  What  for  ?  " 

"  In  case  of  accidents,  Mr.  Mole." 

Mandarin  Mole  was  seen  to  wince  at  the  word. 

"  Accidents  ! "  he  exclaimed. 

"Yes." 

"  But  you  don't  think " 

"  We  don't  anticipate  any  thing,"  said  Dick  Harvey ;  **  but 
one  can  never  tell,  so  good-bye,  Mr.  Mole ;  and  may  we  meet 
again.*' 

"Amen  1"  groaned  Mr.  Mole. 

"And  may  no  harm  come  to  you — at  any  rate,  let  us  pray 
yon  may  not  be  mutilated  like  they  do  their  prisoners  gener* 
a'.'.y." 


48  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Mr.  Mole  made  a  very  wry  face  at  this. 

"  Oh,  they  mutilate  their  prisoners,  Harvey  ?  "  he  said. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  continued  Dick,  cheerfully ;  "  they  are  the  most 
inventive  people  on  the  face  of  the  earth  in  the  matter  of 
tortures  for  their  prisoners." 

"  Dear,  dear !  " 

He  made  a  hard  struggle  to  keep  up  an  appearance  of 
calm. 

But  his  years  would  show  themselves  in  spite  of  him. 

"Well,  good-bye,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Harvey. 

"  One  moment,  Harvey,"  said  Mandarin  Mole.  "  Eh — ah 
— just— ah  !  " 

"  We  shall  be  within  gunshot." 

"  Oh ! " 

"  And  though  you  are  likely  to  fall  honourably " 

"  Don't." 

"  We  shall  avenge  you,  never  fear." 

"  A  pretty  lookout  for  me,"  groaned  Mr.  Mole. 

"  And  we'll  bear  your  mutilated  remains  back  to  Mrs.  Mole, 
no  matter  what  may  occur." 

"  Don't  talk  nonsense,  Harvey,"  said  Mole. 

"  You'll  find  it  no  nonsense." 

"  But  what  do  they  do  ?  I — I  am  anxious  to  learn  all  I 
can." 

"  Yes,"  said  Dick  to  himself,  "  and  to  find  an  excuse  to 
keep  me  here." 

Then  he  gabbled  off  hurriedly  some  of  the  notorious 
tortures  which  the  celestials  have  discovered. 

He  also  added  a  fancy  sketch  or  two  of  his  own. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  this  is  a  favourite  programme  of  theirs. 
They  strip  the  prisoner  stark  naked,  and  tie  him  hands 
and  feet,  so  that  he  is  utterly  helpless. 

"  Then  they  procure  a  springless  cart,  and  carpet  the  bot- 
tom of  it  with  jagged  and  rusty  nails  and  bits  of  broken 
glass " 

"  Ugh  !  "  from  Mole. 

"And  they  lay  their  prisoner  upon  this  to  carry  him  over 
the  worst  roads  they  can  find." 

"  Beasts  ! " 

"  Then  they  draw  his  finger  nails " 

Mole  with  a  groan  dived  his  hands  into  his  pockets. 

"  With  a  pair  of  pincers,  and  then " 

"  Then,"  groaned  Mole  ;  "  why,  that  would  kill  any  one." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  49 

"  Oh,  no,"  said  Harvey,  coolly,  "  not  any  one  that  was 
hardy." 

-Oh!" 

'•  Then  they  tie  the  prisoner  up  by  the  ankles  and  give  him 
the  bastinado." 

"  What  ?  " 

"  You  don't  know  what  the  bastinado  is  >" 

"Oh,  yes." 

"  Well,  it  is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  playing  the  devil's 
tattoo  upon  the  soles  of  your  feet  with  bamboo  canes,  and  by 
Jupiter,  don't  it  make  you  dance  !  " 

"  The  fiends ! " 

"  Well,  next " 

"  Next  ? " 

"Yes." 

"  Why,  no  man * 

"  Oh,  yes  he  could,"  retorted  Dick,  anticipating  Mr.  Mole's 
remark,  **  if,  as  I  stated  before,  he  had  been  brought  up  hardy." 

"  Hardy ! "  echoed  the  dismayed  Mandarin  Mole ;  "  why, 
hang  me,  Harvey,  if  an  iron  statue  could  stand  it." 

"  Well,  next " 

"  There,  there,"  interrupted  Mr.  Mole,  "  I  don't  want  to- 
know  any  thing  more  about  the  horrors  that  these  revolting 
wretches  have  invented." 

"  Oh,  very  well,"  said  Dick, " then  I'll  go." 

a  Eh  ?— oh  !— stop  a  minute." 

"What  for?" 

"To  keep  me  company.** 

"  Well,"  said  Dick,  with  an  air  of  great  candour,  u  I  must 
say  that  that  would  give  me  great  pleasure,  only  I  have  no 
wish  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Chinese  thieves." 

"  Nor  I." 

"  Not  that  I  so  much  mind  their  springless  cart,  their  bas- 
tinado, or  theur  nail  drawing." 

"Ugh!" 

"  I  only  think  of  the  sequel." 

"The  sequel ! "  shrieked  Mandarin  Mole.  "  What  sequel 
can  there  possibly  be  to  such  horrors  ?  " 

"  The  prison,"  replied  Dick,  solemnly. 

"Prison?" 

"  Yes." 

"  You  can't  compare  confinement  in  a  prison  to  such 
horrors." 


50  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  Can't  I  ?— no,  I  can't ;  you're  right,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Dick, 
looking  more  and  more  alarmed  as  he  spoke  ; "  nothing  can 
compare  to  the  prison.  Do  you  know  they  keep  you  awake 
until  you  die  horribly  of  fatigue  ? " 

"  Oh  !  " 

"  Gaolers  are  placed  over  you  night  and  day,  who  prod 
your  ribs  with  cruel  spikes  every  time  that  you  close  your 
eyes." 

«  What  devils !" 

"  They  are." 

And  then,  having  made  poor  Mandarin  Mole  about  as  un- 
comfortable as  he  could  by  this  rather  highly-coloured  de- 
scription of  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  celestials,  Dick 
Harvey  made  off. 

"  Good-bye.  Remember  we  shall  be  within  gunshot,  and 
if  they  torture  or  kill  you,  we  shall  avenge  you." 

And  off  Harvey  ran  at  a  great  rate  to  rejoin  the  rest 
of  the  party,  who  were  far  on  their  way  back. 

When  he  overtook  the  party,  they  were  just  discussing  the 
prudence  of  leaving  Mr.  Mole  there  alone. 

'•  It's  all  very  well  for  a  joke,"  said  Mr.  Jefferson,  "  but  sub- 
posing  that  the  thieves  did  come  down  from  the  hills  and  fall 
upon  poor  old  Mole  ? — we  shouldn't  laugh  then." 

"  No,  indeed." 

"  What  shall  we  do  ? " 

"  Fetch  him  away." 

Dick  burst  into  a  loud  fit  of  laughter. 

"You  don't  know  old  Mole  yet,"  he  said;  "there  is  no 
fear  of  his  remaining  long  there  alone." 

"Think  not?" 

"  It  is  sure." 

"  Still,"  said  Jack  Harkaway,  "  he  might  remain  too  long 
just  by  five  minutes." 

"  Better  call  him  back." 

"  No ;  wait  awhile,  "  said  Dick,  "  here  we  are  at  home.  I'll 
show  you  a  way  of  frightening  him  back,  and  then  he  will  ex- 
plain to  us  how  many  Chinese  he  has  killed.  But  wait  here 
for  a  while." 

So  saying,  he  went  in,  and  returned  in  the  course  of  five 
minutes  accompanied  by  a  curious  little  Chinese  soldier,  car- 
rying an  old-fashioned  musket  and  the  scimitar-like  side-arm. 

He  wore  a  helmet  also,  which  was  so  put  on  that  it  almc*C 
Concealed  his  head  and  face. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  51 

Harvey  fed  his  native  trooper  up  to  the  assembled  com- 
pany, and  then  gave  him  the  word  of  command  in  his  own 
particular  Chinese. 

"Fy-chow!"  cried  Captain  Dick,  in  those  hoarse  accents 
with  which  any  one  is  familiar  who  has  seen  an  English  com- 
pany put  through  its  paces  by  a  superior  officer ;  ~  Keri-ki- 

And  then,  turning  towards  the  company,  he  added, 
gravely— 


The  Chinese  soldier  faced  round. 

-Why,  blow  me! "exclaimed  Mr.  Xabley,  in  surprise, 
•look  there.  Whatisrt?" 

"It  is  Nero." 

And  so  it  was. 

Nero,  as  large  as  fife ! 

And  a  capital  fhim*^**  ynong  Ja**ir* «e  monkev  ntadr  with  per- 
haps this  tricing  gramd'of  objection — 

His  pigtail  had  commenced  growing  rather  lower  down  his 
back  than  did  the  real  celestials. 

-  Now  we  are  off  to  make  an  experiment,"  said  Harvey, 
with  his  old  mischievous  laugh. 

"  Where  to ?"  demanded  Jefferson. 

"To  the  plantation ;  to  the  ruins." 

"What,  to  Mandarin  Mole's  post?" 

"Yes." 

"What  is  your  trick?"  said  Harkaway.  "Tell  us  afl 
about  it?" 

"  I  am  only  going  to  march  Nero  up  there,  to  see  how  far 
noble  old  Mole  s  pluck  will  hold  out." 

So  the  wbote  of  the  party,  seeing  that  there  was  a  chance  of 
fun,  followed  Dick  Harvey  and  monkey  Xero  Fy-Cbow. 

As  soon  as  they  got  within  a  hundred  yards  or  so  of  Mr. 
Mole,  they  discovered  that  that  worthy  gentleman  had  been 
trying  to  raise  his  courage  for  the  solitary  rigil  by  ar- 

He  had  sat  upon  the  ground  to  rest  while  he  "refreshed" 
from  a  black  bottle  that  stood  beside  him. 

Water,"  biff  k^Lk suspic^S^oTwh^y.     Sodidhe! 

It  was  evident  that  he  had  refreshed  freely  and  frequently, 
for  be  had  been  completely  overcome  by  it,  and  bad  sunk  back 


52  JACK  HARKAWAY  AND  HIS  SOWS 

Not  only  did  the  worthy  Mole  sleep,  he  also  snored  most 
•discordantly. 

Nothing  could  be  better  for  Harvey's  scheme. 

He  brought  Nero  up,  made  him  strike  an  awe-inspiring  at- 
titude over  the  recumbent  Mole  and  then  he,  vulgarly  speak- 
ing, kicked  up  a  devil  of  a  shindy. 

First  Harvey  hullabalooed  and  then  blazed  away  on  a  six- 
shooter  revolver, 

And  just  as  he  had  let  off  his  revolver,  down  dived  Dick 
behind  the  ruins  of  the  house. 

Mole  shrieked. 

It  was  a  drunken  cry,  but  a  cry  it  was. 

"  Murder,  thieves,  help  !     Oh,  the  devil !  " 

No  response  to  this  appeal  appearing  to  be  forthcoming, 
Mr.  Mole  scrambled  up  to  his  feet— well,  no,  his  foot — and 
hurried  away  as  fast  as  his  legs — well,  no,  his  leg — would 
carry  him. 

Nero  managed  to  fire  off  his  gun,  loaded  only  with  powder. 

Mole  ^eard  the  report,  and  tumbled  flat  on  his  face,  but 
was  soon  again  on  his  leg,  stumping  quickly  away. 

"  Well,  Nero,"  said  Harvey,  laughing  heartily,  "  we've  got 
the  best  of  that  anyhow.  Now,  Nero,  I'll  leave  you  on 
guard,  and  just  go  home  to  hear  what  old  Mole  has  to  say 
for  himself.  He's  sure  to  tell  lies  by  the  bushel  over  this." 


CHAPTER  X. 

NERO   MOUNTS   GUARD   UP  A    TREE   AND   SCALPS  A  MARAUDER. 

NERO,  like  a  brave  soldier,  shouldered  his  musket  and 
marched  up  and  down. 

There  was  a  bit  of  a  hop  in  his  march,  otherwise  he  would 
have  looked  like  a  highly-disciplined  sentry. 

This  was  until  Dick  Harvey  was  out  of  sight,  for  Nero  was 
as  artful  as  the  father  of  evil  himself. 

Then  he  dropped  his  musket,  and  began  to  search  about 
-miongst  the  ruins  of  the  demolished  pagoda. 

A  woefully  curious  monkey  was  Nero. 

His  sharp  eye  had  perceived  something  glistening  in  the 
rubbish  of  the  ruins. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  53 

He  prodded  down  with  a  stick  that  he  found,  poked  and 
raked  about  until  he  fished  up  the  object  of  his  search. 

It  was  a  shiny  leather  case. 

Nero  tried  to  open  it,  for  his  natural  intelligence  told  him 
it  was  to  be  opened,  but  he  could  not  manage  it,  and  so  he 
suffed  it  into  his  pocket  in  apparent  disgust 

Suddenly  Nero  pricked  up  his  ears. 

He  heard  footsteps. 

He  looked  about  him,  and  then  seeing  cause  for  alarm, 
scrambled  up  into  a  tree. 

It  wanted  all  his  wonderful  dexterity  in  climbing  to  make 
good  his  hold  up  there  with  his  musket  on  his  arm. 

He  had  only  just  time  to  get  fairly  ensconced  when  a  man 
appeared  upon  the  top  of  the  steep  hill  just  close  by  the 
rums  of  Mole's  pagoda. 

There  was  something  very  suspicious  in  the  man's  move- 
ments. 

He  looked  caref uly  about  thim  before  venturing  to  descend 
the  hill. 

But  apparently  it  never  occurred  to  him  to  look  into  the  tree 
where  Nero  the  artful  sat  perched  and  grinning. 

The  new-comer  was  satisfied  that  the  coast  was  clear. 

So  down  he  came. 

He  paused  immediately  beneath  Nero's  perch,  and  looked 
anxiously  about  him. 

And  then  he  began  muttering  to  himself. 

Now,  his  speech  appeared  to  have  a  singularly  exciting 
effect  upon  his  monkeyship. 

What  could  be  the  reason  ? 

Was  it  because  the  stranger,  who  was  outwardly  a  thorough- 
paced celestial,  spoke  in  English,  that  had  an  ultra-White- 
chapel  ring  in  it  ? 

Perhaps. 

Certain  it  is  that  it  did  excite  Nero  exceedingly. 

"  I'm  cock  sure,"  said  this  strange  Chinese,  "  that  I  dropped 
it  about  here." 

He  raked  about  again. 

"  Blow  it  !  "  exclaimed  the  disappointed  searcher.  "  Hang 
it  !  "  —dash  it  ! " 

Nero  grinned  and  showed  his  teeth. 

"Well,"  soliloquised  the  Chinese,  ruefully,  "  this  is  a  pretty 
go — jigger  me  if  it  ain't 

"  Here  I  come,  with  a  whole  mob  of  these  long-tailed  prigs, 


54  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

to  knock  down  old  Moley-poley's  shop,  to  find  the  treasures 
he's  got  there,  and  devil  a  ha'porth  can  we  drop  on. 

"All  the  good  I  do  is  to  lose  my  case,  with  my  letters  and 
money  in  it.  Damme,  it's  like  the  boy  that  found  a  marble 
and  broke  a  window  with  it." 

He  stopped  short. 

His  eye  fell  upon  the  black  bottle  that  Mandarin  Mole 
had  been  caressing. 

"  What'-";  this  ?  Spring  water,"  said  the  stranger. 

He  picked  it  up. 

He  sniffed. 

Then  his  eyes  beamed,  and  his  voice  sounded  ecstatic  as 
he  murmured — 

"  Whisky  ! " 

He  took  a  suck. 

"  Oh,  num-num  !  "  he  exclaimed  ;  "  and  Irish,  too.  Old 
Mole  was  a  rum  old  fool,  but  he  had  always  a  very  pretty 
taste  in  whisky  !  " 

And  so  he  showed  his  belief  in  Isaac  Mole's  taste,  by  suck- 
ing away  at  the  whisky  until  he  began  to  feel  the  potency  of 
it  about  his  head. 

"  I  wonder  if  old  Mole  has  been  here,"  he  said  to  himself, 
presently  ;  "  I  should  like  to  drop  across  him  alone  ;  I'd 
make  him  soapy,  and  nick  his  wooden  member.  What  a 
lark !  He  !  he  !  he  ! " 

And  the  way  he  laughed  told  its  own  tale  plainly. 

Mole's  whisky  was  very  much  overproof. 

"  I'd  like  to  transmogrify  him  altogether,  "  pursued  this 
amiable  person,  who  was  amusing  himself  with  picturing  the 
discomfiture  of  the  real  provider  of  his  feast  ;  "  I'd  like,  as 
the  Cockney  proverb  says — or  doesn't  say — to  catch  a  mole 
asleep,  and  shave  his  eyebrows  !  What  sport  ! " 

Suddenly  his  humour  changed. 

He  went  at  once  from  gay  to  grave. 

"  What  if  they  have  got  my  case  of  letters — and  the  money  ! 
Oh,  blow  the  tin  !  "  he  added.  "  But  the  letter »  Oh,  my  ! 
That  would  be  too  cruel  !  How  it  would  spoil  every  thing, 
just  as  we  have  got  such  a  delicious  swindle  on.  Oh,  if  can't 
be!" 

He  got  on  to  his  feet,  but  to  his  surprise  he  found  that  he 
was  not  quite  as  steady  as  he  could  have  wished. 

"  Dear  me  !  I  must  have  got  cramped,  sitting  so  long,"  he 
muttered. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  55 

Suddenly  Nero  swung  round,  and  dropped  from  his  perch. 

Down  he  plumped,  full  in  front  of  Biga-Eng- Ming-Ming 
— for  that  was  the  mysterious  Celestial  who  spoke  English  of 
the  Whitechapel  idiom. 

The  latter  gave  a  mighty  start. 

Nero  recovered  arms  like  a  real  military  machine. 

Then  he  presented  his  gun  full  at  the  intruder. 

"What  is  it?"  cried  Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming.  "O\  sir, 
don't  fire.5' 

Nero  remained  impassive. 

Immovable  as  a  statue. 

He  was  a  wonderful  animal,  and  did  rare  credit  to  Dick  in 
having  learnt  so  much  in  so  little  time. 

"  Cbin-Chin  ! "  said  the  half-inebriated  Biga-Eng,  ruefully. 
"  I  wish  I  only  knew  a  little  more  of  their  blessed  lingo  :  I 
might  be  able  to  gammon  him,  and  smarm  him  over." 

Nero  advanced  upon  the  terror-stricken  Biga-Eng  menac- 


ingly. 
"Don' 


ft.  handsome  sir.  Oh,  great  mandarin,  don't  hurt  a 
poor  little  fellow." 

And  just  then  he  caught  sight  of  Nero's  face. 

This  was  enough  for  Biga-Eng. 

His  white  face  grew  ghastly,  his  teeth  chattered,  and  his 
knees  knocked  together. 

"  'Evins  ! "  groaned  the  wretched  man  ;  "  it's  the  old  one 
been  and  disguised  hisself  and  coming  to  fetch  me  for  my 
sins —  where's  his  fork  ?  "  Nero  showed  his  teeth. 

And  truth  to  tell,  he  did  look  rather  an  alarming  personagt 
when  his  white  teeth  stood  out  against  his  hairy  face 

He  was  an  artful  monkey,  too,  and  he  saw  his  advantage. 

He  made  another  step  forward. 

Then  down  Biga  prostrated  himself  in  the  dust. 

Thereupon  Nero  brought  down  the  butt-end  of  his  gun  an 
awful  whack  upon  Biga-Eng*s  bigger  end. 

"  Whoo  ! "  yelled  Biga  ;  "  somebody  come  and  he/p  me. 
Oh,  the  devil/ the  devil  ! " 

And  he  had  good  cause  to  yell. 

The  effects  of  the  blow  were  to  colour  the  unfortunate  man'.N 
damaged  part  like  a  harlequin's  coat,  and  it  effectually  pre- 
vented him  from  enjoying  himself  sitting  for  a  iong  while 
to  come, 

Xero  belabourea  the  unhappy  man  until  he  was  Urea  of  tht 
sport,  and  then  he  made  a  grab  at  his  hair. 


56  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOATS 

It  came  away  in  his  paw. 

Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming  wore  a  wig. 

At  this,  satisfied  with  his  victory,  Nero  shouldered  his 
musket  and  marched  off  homewards. 

You  could  see  by  his  strut  that  he  was  not  a  little  pleased 
with  his  exploit. 

Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming  wailed  and  groaned — he  groaned  and 
wailed. 

And  when  he  could  no  longer  repress  his  curiosity,  he 
looked  up. 

There  was  the  conquering  hero  marching  off  with  his  gun 
in  one  hand  and  the  spoils  of  victory  on  the  other. 

"  Oh,  my,  what  a  remarkably  long  pigtail  he  wears,"  said 
the  suffering  man  to  himself.  ' '  And  how  low  down — but  I  've 
done  him,  and  I  could  laugh  if  he  hadn't  given  me  'bacca 
so  awful,  for  I've  diddled  the  devil  himself — he  thought  he 
had  scalped  me,  and  blowed  if  it  ain't  a  wig." 

And  so  he  crawled  away  with  his  hands  behind  him,  groan- 
ing and  yelling — 

"  Oh,  how  I  suffer  in  this  particular  part." 


CHAPTER  XI. 

BIGAMINI  DROPS  HIS  MASK  AND  MOLE  DROPS  INTO  HIM. 

"•"  HARKAWAY  and  Jefferson  met  Mr.  Mole  on  his  return  from 
the  ruined  pagoda 

"  Glad  to  see  you  alive,  sir,"  said  Harkaway  ;  "  did  any  one 
attack  you  ? " 

Mr.  Mole  nodded. 

"Yes." 

"  Surely,  you  were  not  exposed  to  any  danger,  sir  ?  "  said 
Harkaway. 

"  Indeed  I  was,"  replied  Mr.  Mole.  "  But  thanks  to  my 
good  nerve  and  a  strong  arm,  I  have  given  them  a  lesson. 

"  Goodness  gracious  !  "  said  Mr.  Jefferson.  "  Did  many 
attack  you  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  In  force  ?  " 

"  They  were  at  least  twenty,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  57 

a  Did  many  attack  you  at  once  ?  * 

"  Yes.  I  will  not  disguise  from  you  that  I  was  in  some 
alarm.  But  the  cowardly  ruffians  dare  not  come  within  reach 
after  I  had  knocked  three  of  them  upon  the  head." 

Harkaway  and  Jefferson  said  nothing. 

Their  looks  expessed  their  profound  admiration  for  Man- 
darin Mole. 

"They  all  assailed  me  at  once,"  pursued  the  unblushing 
Mole,  with  the  air  of  a  warrior.  "But  I  fell  upon  them — hang 
it,  sir,  I  smote  'em  hip  and  thigh,  and  I  scattered  them  like 
chaff  before  the  wind." 

"  It  sounds  like  a  song.*' 

"  It  does  said  Jefferson.  "  I  should  have  been  sorry  to 
have  been  in  your  place,  Mr.  Mole." 

And  while  Mr.  Mole  was  giving  a  finishing  touch  to  his 
highly-coloured  narrative,  Dick  Harvey  came  in. 

"  Here's  a  letter  for  vou,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  he. 

Mr.  Mole  took  it  and  read  it 

And  then  he  handed  it  to  Mr.  Jefferson,  saying  that  it  was 
from  the  shipbroker,  relating  to  the  departure  of  the  u  Franz 
Josef." 

Mr.  Jefferson  read  it  and  handed  it  to  Harkaway,  who 
scanned  it  through,  and  then  read  it  aloud  to  the  company 
generally. 

"  HONOURED  SIR, — The  *  Franz  Josef*  sails  on  the  twenty- 
third  inst  By  special  arrangement,  and  special  accommo- 
dation has  been  prepared  on  board  for  your  friends  who  pur- 
pose going.  The  state  cabins  and  berths  have  been  refitted, 
and  every  requirement  has  been  carefully  anticipated. 

"  Your  excellency's  obedient  servant  to  command— BIGA- 

ENG-MlNG-MlNG." 

"Well,"  said  Mr.  Mote,  "are  you  still  of  the  same 
mind?" 

"Yes." 

44  All?" 

And  so  it  went  round,  every  one  deciding  upon  leaving  the 
place,  save  Isaac  Mole  and  his  Chloe. 

It  was  poor  Harkaway  who  had  started  this  movement. 

Since  the  untimely  fate  of  young  Jack,  his  mother  was  so 
saddened  that  nothing  could  rouse  her  from  her  settled  mel- 
ancholy. 


5&  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Constant  change  of  scene  was,  he  thought,  the  only  thing 
to  chase  dull  thought. 

And  so  it  was  determined  that  they  should  start  for  the 
Voyage  in  the  first  ship — by  the  "  Franz  Josef." 

At  the  same  time  it  was  understood  that  they  were  only 
going  for  the  voyage. 

They  agreed  with  old  Mole  to  return  within  a  few  months. 

The  only  members  of  the  party  that  were  to  remain  behind 
were  Daniel  Pike  and  his  comrade  Nabley,  the  French  cook, 
Hypolite  Potiron,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mole. 

"  By  the  way,"  said  Dick  Harvey,  "  I  have  got  a  bit  of  fun 
to  relate  to  you." 

"  What  of?" 

"  Mr.  Mole." 

"  Me  !  "  cried  Mole. 

"  Yes,  you  and  Nero." 

"  Nero  and  I  went  up  to  the  ruins  of  the  pagoda," 

Mole  started. 

"  Nero  and  you  ! "  he  ejaculated. 

"  Yes,  what  of  that  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  only  I  didn't  know,"  stammered  Mole. 

"  I  rigged  Nero  up  as  a  Chinese  soldier " 

"What?" 

"  And  he  looked  the  part  to  the  life,"  continued  Dick,  as 
though  he  did  not  hear  the  interruption.  "  Well,  there  lay 
Mr.  Mole  asleep  and  snoring." 

"  No,  no." 

"  Snoring." 

"  No,  no,  no,"  cried  Mr.  Mole,  vehemently.  "  Asleep,  I 
grant  you,  but  I  deny  the  snoring.  Mrs.  Mole  will  tell  you 
that  I  never  snore.  Chloe,  my  love,  tell  them  that  I  never 
snore.  Tell  the  truth." 

"  Why,  you  snore  like  a  old  pig,  Ikey,"  said  Mrs.  Mole. 
"  I  sometime  punch  you  in  de  back,  turn  you  ober,  and  den 
you  not  snore  so  much." 

Whereupon  there  was  a  general  roar  of  laughter. 

«  Well,"  resumed  Dick. 

"  Don't  trouble  yourself  to  tell  any  more,  Harvey,"  said  the 
tutor ;  "  we  have  had  quite  enough." 

"  Come,  come,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Harvey,  "  I  want  them  all 
to  know  about  it  and  you  too.  Well,  Nero  and  I  marched 
up.  Mr.  Mole  was  snoring,  as  I  said,  and  beside  him  lay  a 
bottle," 


ADVENTURES  Of  CHINA.  59 


ej 

so,  but  smeffing  uncommonly  like  whisky, 
bl!" 

'Oh,  Mr.  Mole,  Mr.  Mole,"  said 
"So  it  is,"  persisted  Mr.  Mole.     "Beside,"  he  added 
to  the  i  nwjpiaj,  "if  there  was  any  truth  in  your 
where  is  Nero  dressed  up,  eh?    That's  a  poser 
for  you,  Master  Harvey— eh,  where's  Nero? " 

Dick  beard  a  noise  that  hidnrpd  him  to  step  to  the  en- 


-Where s  Nero  ?  -  be  echoed;  -why,  here' 

Ami  Nero,  grinning  and  showing  his  teeth,  marched  tri- 

: :  -.-.;-.:-. 

-Hollo!  "cried  Harkaway;  -he's 
-Whafsthat?" 

-  It  looks  like  Kga-Eng  Ming-Ming's  hair," 

"  I  airovs  thought  that  he  wore  a  wig.    WeD,  Me.  Mole, 
woyonsaTnow?" 

-  Whv,  where  is  Mr.  Mole?1 
He  had 


The  overpowering  evidence  had  IffWi  too  much  tflpffi  muf 

Si)  be  had  retired  until  the  affair  blew  over. 

****** 

The  twentr-dnrd  arrived. 

The  "  Franz  Josef"  had  been  fitted  i_ 
for  royalty  to  travel  in,  and  the  Harkaway  party 

Nero  was  left  behind,  be  it  observed. 

Since  his  adventure  at  die  ruins  of  Mole's  pagoda,  Nero 
had  I*ITM  allowed  to  retain  his  m<iw»*  soldier's  costume. 

letters  and  money  of  Kga-Eng-Ming-Ming  was  not  discov- 


Nero  squatting  on  the  ground,  and  making: 
attempt  to  open  the  leather  case. 

. .   •  T  :         .    •_  _  «!•_!*— 1».     "mir 9  •*    f        ,  .      j       -    .  • 

n  H2I  IKXTC  TOU  IDeTC,  jTHlCfO  2      OCBBlMlCQ  UIC  UllOt. 

The  intdfigent  monkey  held  up  his  treasure  to  Mr.  Mole, 
and  to  his  great  defight,  the  latter  opened  it  immediately. 
"Why,  what's  this?"  exclaimed   Mr.  Mote.     "Money- 
notes— English,  too.    Why,  Nero,  where  did  yon  get 

?  ' 


6o  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  1US  SON 'S 

He  went  on. 

There  were  letters,  so  Mole  opened  one  of  them,  eagerly 
glancing  first  at  the  outside  address,  which  was-  - 

"  Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming, 

"  Hong  Kong. 
"  To  be  forwarded." 

But  inside  the  letter,  the  first  words  dazed  poor  Isaac 
Mole,  and  set  him  all  of  a  tremble. 

"  FRIEND  BIGAMINI, — Your  last  letter  has  come  safely  to 
hand.  But  before  I  go  on  to  speak  of  the  chief  subject  of 
interest  to  us  all,  let  me  remind  you  that  you  have  been 
guilty  of  imprudence  in  selecting  a  name  so  nearly  like  the 
one  by  which  you  were  so  long  known,  and  by  which  I  al- 
ways feel  to  want  to  address  you.  You  are  surrounded  by 
danger.  You  do  not  know  how  careful  you  should  be 
when  you  have  in  your  immediate  neighbourhood  such  a 
mob  of  keensighted  men  as  Harkaway — curse  him  ! — Har- 
vey, Jefferson,  a  new  foe,  and  his  friend  the  dwarf,  Magog 
Brand,  not  to  speak  of  the  two  English  detectives,  Pike  and 
Nabley,  who  can  read  a  face  as  plainly  as  a  written  volume  ! 
Beware  of  them !  Your  only  bit  of  luck  is  having  that 
drunken  old  donkey  Mole  there." — "  What !  "  ejaculated 
Mole,  firing  up,  " '  that  drunken  old  donkey  Mole  there.'  " 
— "  You  have  only  to  hang  him  out  a  drink  as  a  bait,  and 
you  can  hook  him  when  you  please  ! " 

He  dashed  down  the  letter  with  a  cry  of  indignation. 

"  The  villain  ! "  he  ejaculated  ;  "  but  let  me  finish  it." 

He  resumed. 

"  If  you  can  manage  to  get  the  Harkaways  off,  as  you  sup- 
pose, by  the  '  Franz  Josef '  on  the  twenty-third,  it  will  in- 
deed be  glorious,  for  nothing  can  then  save  them  from  visit- 
ing our  delightful  floating  country,  the  '  Flowery  Land  ' — 
and  in  that  case  good-bye  to  all  our  old  enemies  at  one  fell 
swoop,  and  we  shall  reap  the  reward  of  industry,  the  fruits  of 
our  labours.  We  shall  be  rich  for  life,  my  Bigamini.  Hark- 
away's  brat  is  here  on  board,  and  has  been  permitted  to  live 
till  now.  In  two  days  he  is  to  be  hanged  ! " 

"  Poor  boy,  poor  boy,"  cried  Mole. 

The  letter  fell  from  his  hand,  and  Nero  eagerly  snatched  it 
up. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  61 

"  Ah,  Nero,  Nero."  said  poor  old  Mole,  "  if  you  could 
only  read,  you  would  learn  there  that  you  were  going  to  lose 
the  best  master  you  ever  had,  or  ever  could  have,  and  I 
shall  lose  best  the  boy,  my  own  dear  young  Jack." 

And  the  old  tutor,  quite  overcome  by  has  feelings,  fairly 
wept. 

We  can't  say  if  monkeys  ever  indulge  in  tears,  but  one 
thing  is  certain. 

Nero  knew  that  poor  old  Mole  was  in  grief,  for  he  sidled 
up  to  him  and  fondled  him  just  as  a  pet  dog  does  when  you 
are  in  trouble. 

';  Poor  Nero,"  said  Mr.  Mole ;  "  poor  Nero,  when  did  you 
get  this  ?  Why  didn't  you  find  it  sooner  ?  Nero,  you  are 
just  two  days  too  late." 

Alack,  he  was  ! 

The  "  Franz  Josef  "  was  two  days  on  her  journey. 

Two  days  nearer  its  fate. 

Mr.  Mole  jumped  up. 

What  was  to  be  done  ? 

"  It's  no  use  sitting  down  to  regret,"  said  he,  aloud ;  **  I 
must  do  what  I  can  to  save  them.  Oh,  what  an  ass  I  have 
been  to  fall  into  such  a  trap.  What  shall  I  do  to  help  them  ? " 

He  looked  out  for  the  two  detectives. 

They  were  both  out. 

He  scarcely  expected  them  back  that  night. 

Was  there  no  one  he  could  consult  in  the  meanwhile  ? 

No  one. 

"  Oh,  I  shall  die  of  impatience,"  groaned  Mole,  in  anguish, 
"  I  know  I  shall.  All,  all  gone — all  at  one  fell  swoop,  and 
I  shall  be  left  a  poor,  miserable  old  wretch  to  end  my  days 
in  solitude." 

His  grief  was  sincere,  but  still  it  was  rather  hard  upon  the 
faithful  Chloe. 

****** 

"  Sir  ! "  said  a  servant,  advancing  to  Mole. 
"  What  now  ?  " 

"  The  broker  Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming  would  see  your  excel- 
Jency." 

Mr.  Mole  started  up. 

"  Biga-Eng  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Show  him  in." 

The  servant  bowed  and  left  the  apartment. 


52  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOATS 

"Now,"  said  Mr.  Mole  to  himself,  "now  I  shall  have 
him.  Now  we  will  see  how  he  will  go  on  with  that  '  drunken 
old  Mole,'  as  they  call  me.  Well,  I  am  a  drunken  old  fool 
and  a  donkey,  but  please  goodness  he  shall  learn  that  Isaac 
Mole  is  not  utterly  despicable  when  he  has  a  lucid  interval." 

He  hastily  concealed  the  pocket-book,  gave  a  final  glance 
at  the  letter  to  ascertain  who  was  the  writer,  and  discovering 
that  it  was  Toro,  he  got  Nero  out  of  the  way  while  the  sham 
shipbroker  Biga-Eng-Mmg-Ming,  was  ushered  into  the  room. 

The  traitor  bowed. 

Mole  responded  by  a  grave  salute. 

He  had  to  exercise  the  greatest  control  over  himself  to 
prevent  his  feelings  betraying  him. 

"  Good  health  and  happiness  to  your  excellency,"  said  the 
sham  shipbroker.  "  You  are  looking  in  excellent  health." 

"  I  am,  my  friend,"  replied  Mr.  Mole.  "  Come  and  be 
seated." 

Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming  obeyed. 

"To  what  am  I  indebted  for  the  pleasure  of  this  visit?" 
asked  Mr.  Mole. 

"  I  have  brought  your  excellency  a  little  present,"  said 
his  visitor,  blandly. 

"  Ah,  what  ? " 

"  A  bottle." 

"  Of  spirits,"  interrupted  Mr.  Mole,  excitedly.  "  I 
thought  so." 

Biga-Eng;  smiled. 

"  Your  excellency  is  fond  of  whisky  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  with  forced  gaiety,  "  very.  Some 
of  my  dear  friends  go  so  far  as  to  say  I  am  a  drunken  old 
rascal." 

"  Surely  no  one  would  take  so  great  a  liberty.  Have  you 
enemies,  your  excellency  ? " 

"  Some  few  only." 

"  Your  excellency  surprises  me." 

"Why,  when  I  was  in  Italy,  I  knew  a  scoundrel,  an 
Italian  thief,  called  Toro— you  look  strange.  Do  you  know 
the  name?" 

"  No,  your  excellency,"  replied  the  visitor  quickly.     "  Not 

"  I  thought  you  might." 

"  Never  was  in  Italy  in  all  my  life." 

"  Never  ? " 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  63 

-Never." 

"  Could  you  swear  that  ?  " 

"Yes." 

44  At  the  point  of  death  ?  * 

"  Oh,  certainly,"  replied  the  visitor,  cheerfully,  "  certainly." 

"  That's  right,"  said  Isaac  Mole,  stumping  across  the 
room  to  a  cabinet  in  which  he  kept  some  arms,  "  for  you  are 
near  death  now." 

"What,  sir?" 

The  visitor  smiled. 

He  had  not  quite  caught  what  Mr.  Mole  said. 

Mr.  Mole  got  from  his  cabinet  a  large  horse-pistol,  an 
ugly,  old-fashioned  weapon,  with  a  barrel  eighteen  inches 
long,  and  walking  to  Biga-Eng's  chair,  he  took  the  unsus- 
pecting visitor  by  the  throat,  and  thrust  the  pistol  muzzle 
into  his  face. 

"Now,  Bigamini,"  said  Isaac  Mole,  in  a  strangely  calm 
voice,  "  you  are  at  the  point  of  death,  so  swear  you  never 
were  in  Italy  in  the  whole  course  of  your  life." 

It  was  indeed  the  villanous  and  hypocritical  impostor 
Bigamini,  the  murderer,  and  the  former  associate  of  Italian 
brigands,  who,  after  being  cast  adrift  upon  the  ocean,  was 
saved  by  a  passing  vessel,  and  now  was  a  spy  in  the  employ- 
ment of  the  Chinese  pirates. 

The  villain  was  unmasked. 

His  colour  went,  and  his  cheeks  turned  of  the  livid  hue  of 
the  grave. 

His  jaw  dropped  and  he  vras  dumb-stricken. 

"  Swear ! "  said  Isaac  Mole,  hi  the  same  cold  and  terrify- 
ing tones ;  "  swear  it,  for  I  have  promised  myself  that  you 
shall  die  with  a  lie  upon  your  lips." 

Not  a  word. 

Not  a  sound  from  that  fear-stricken  wretch. 

"Do  you  hear?"  said  Mole,  with  subdued  ferocity. 
"Swear!" 

And  he  jobbed  the  pistol  fairly  into  the  impostor's  mouth. 

Bigamini  only  gave  a  hollow  groan. 

"  Swear  ! "  persisted  Isaac  Mole. 

Bigamini  then  found  his  tongue. 

"Concealment  is  useless,"  he  said ;  "but  if  you  kill  me, 
your  friends  will  all  be  sacrificed." 

"  Swear ! "  cried  Mole,  jobbing  him  again  with  the  pistol. 

"  Spare  me,  and  I  can  save  them  all." 


64  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  You  prince  of  liars,"  said  Isaac  Mole.  "  You  are  trying 
it  on  again." 

"  I  am  not ;  my  life  is  in  your  hands  ;  is  it  likely  I  would 
trifle  with  you  now  ?  " 

"  How  could  you  save  them  ? " 

"  Easily." 

"  Explain,"  cried  Mole,  quickly,  "  or  the  pistol  might  go 
off,  and  your  head  with  it." 

"  Let  a  steamer  be  dispatched  after  them,"  said  Bigamini, 
hurriedly  ;  "  let  me  be  kept  in  bondage  until  they  are  safe. 
If  you  can  pay  for  it " 

"  If,"  cried  Mole,  excitedly.  "  I — I'll  pay  thousands — 
any  thing,  every  thing  that  I  possess." 

"  Nothing  is  easier,  then,"  said  Bigamini. 

"  What  shall  I  do  ?     I  will  give  my  life  to  save  my  friends." 

"  Call  your  people." 

Mole  stepped  up  to  a  gong  that  stood  in  the  room,  and 
beat  upon  it  with  a  large  drumstick  that  was  hung  beside  it. 

Bigamini  glanced  eagerly  about  him. 

"  Now  or  never  !  "  the  spy  muttered  to  himself. 

He  bounded  from  his  seat,  and  snatching  up  a  broad 
scimitar  from  the  cabinet  of  arms,  he  made  a  dash  at  Mole. 

"  Ha  \  "  cried  Mole. 

But  before  he  could  get  out  of  reach,  a  deadly  cut  from 
the  scimitar  upon  his  leg  sent  him  to  the  ground  with  a 
groan  of  agony. 

"  You've  got  it,  old  Mole,  have  you  ? "  said  Bigamini. 

He  raised  his  scimitar  again  to  strike. 

Just  then  something  leaped  upon  his  shoulders,  and  two 
sharp,  claw-like  hands  caught  in  his  hair. 

The  hands  of  something  horrible  and  unnatural  cut  into 
his  flesh,  and  he  was  blinded  with  his  own  blood. 

He  yelled  with  agony. 

Down  he  rolled  upon  the  floor,  and  then,  catching  a 
glimpse  of  his  hitherto  unseen  enemy,  he  was  filled  with  a 
nameless  horror. 

His  assailant  was  the  devilish-looking  sentry  from  the 
ruins  of  the  pagoda. 

He  scrambled  up  and  fought  desperately,  and  made  for 
the  door,  but  some  one  was  near  at  hand. 

So  he  fought  up  to  the  window,  and  somehow  or  other 
contrived  to  scramble  out. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  65 

But  his  unearthly  assailant  had  given  him  something  to 
remember  him  by  for  many  a  long  day  to  come. 

For  the  brave  Xero  had  not  only  taken  out  the  traitor's 
hair  by  the  handful,  and  this  time  it  was  not  a  wig,  but  he 

had  also  torn  his  face  and  blinded  him  in  one  eye  for  life. 
****** 

Daniel  Pike  burst  into  the  room,  followed  closely  by 
Nabley. 

"  Mr.  Mole,  Mr.  Mole,"  cried  the  latter,  "what  is  it?" 

Poor  old  Mole  was  almost  beyond  speech. 

But  he  pulled  himself  up,  and  with  a  groan,  gasped — 

"  Bigamini — window — he  escapes — shoot — kill — bring  him 
back." 

Pike  heard  the  words,  and  his  quick  wit  caught  the  mean- 
ing at  once. 

So,  snatching  up  his  rifle,  he  ran  to  the  window. 

"  I  can  see  a  man  flying  up  the  hilL" 

"  After  him !  "  cried  Nabley  ;  "  don't  miss  him." 

"  I  won't." 

Pike  scrambled  through  the  window,  rifle  in  hand. 

Then,  when  he  saw  that  the  fugitive  had  to  make  a  long, 
straight  run  of  it  in  the  open,  he  dropped  upon  one  knee, 
and  resting  his  elbow  upon  the  other,  he  took  a  long,  steady 
aim. 

"  Hit  him  ! " 

He  had. 

The  fugitive  threw  up  his  arms  and  fell  forward  upon  his 
face. 

"He's  safe,"  said  Daniel  Pike,  contentedly;  "now  for 
poor  old  Mole." 

He  ran  back  to  the  window  and  put  his  head  in. 

The  place  was  full  of  people  now. 

Poor  Chloe  was  supporting  her  husband's  head  in  her 
lap,  while  the  servants  were  gathered  about  looking  on. 

**  Nabley,"  said  Pike,  anxiously,  "  how  is  he  ?  " 

"  Bad." 

"  Is  there  danger  ?  "  he  then  asked,  anxiously. 

"  I  can't  say,  but  the  villain  has  nearly  lopped  off  the 
other  leg — if  we  save  him,  he  will  have  to  go  through  the 
world  upon  another  wooden  leg." 

Just  then  poor  Isaac  Mole  opened  his  eyes. 

"  Has  Pike  got  him  ? "  he  faltered. 

"  Yes." 


66  JACK  II ARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOJV'S 

"  That's  brave,"  said  the  sufferer.  "  Save  them  and  I  can 
die  happy.  Bring  him  here." 

Pike  and  one  of  the  servants  ran  back  and  mounted  the 
hill  to  the  spot  where  his  well-aimed  shot  had  dropped  the 
pirates'  spy. 

But  he  was  gone. 

Where  it  was  impossible  to  say. 

But  Bigamini  had  got  clear  off,  and  the  only  sign  of  his 
passage  was  a  tell-tale  pool  of  blood  upon  the  hillside  where 
he  fell. 

This  was  indeed  bad  luck,  and  Daniel  Pike  returned  quite 
crestfallen  to  the  house. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

HUNSTON'S  MECHANICAL  ARM—"  FOES,  BEWARE  ME  !  " — THE 
LEGEND  OF  THE  PIRATE  TREASURE. 

LET  us  board  the  "  Flowery  Land  "  once  more. 

Several  details  have  to  be  related  in  connection  with  the 
pirate  vessel,  before  we  resume  the  adventures  of  the  unfort- 
unate Isaac  Mole. 

They  had  naturally  a  good  deal  of  leisure  time  upon  their 
hands  now,  and  some  of  them  put  theirs  to  a  very  good  ad- 
vantage. 

Robert  Emmerson  showed  that,  in  addition  to  the  various 
gifts  of  which  we  have  seen  he  was  possessed,  he  was  a  highly 
skilful  mechanician,  and  he  passed  his  hours  in  making  a 
movable  arm  for  Hunston. 

The  artificial  limb  was  made  of  steel,  and  so  cunningly 
wrought  that  there  was  not  even  any  stiffness  to  betray  it  tc 
those  who  might  not  happen  to  know  of  Hunston's  loss. 

The  hand  was  a  masterpiece,  and  jointed  with  a  delicacj 
and  finish  that  was  perfectly  marvellous. 

When  this  clever  piece  of  mechanism  was  complete,  Em- 
merson showed  that,  joined  to  his  skill  in  other  branches  oi 
mechanical  art,  he  was  an  admirable  engraver. 

Upon  the  smooth  steel  of  the  thicker  part  of  the  arm  h( 
engraved  this  legend — 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  67 

**  From  Emmerson  to  Hunston. 

**  FOES,  BEWARE  ME  ! 
But  woe  to  the  wearer  if  reused  against  a  friend" 

Now,  clever  as  was  this  mechanical  limb,  it  yet  concealed 
from  the  general  eye  a  most  important  feature  of  its  con- 
struction. 

This  feature  was  known  only  to  Emmerson. 

It  was  this — 

One  of  the  springs  in  the  top  joint  was  anointed  with  a 
subtle  and  insidious  poison. 

It  was  so  arranged  that  in  a  given  time  the  friction  would 
inevitably  cause  the  joint  to  wear  away,  and  then  it  would 
need  the  care  of  the  inventor  himself. 

He  alone  knew  how  to  repair  it  in  that  part. 

The  bond  of  guilt  existing  between  them  gave  Emmerson 
no  guarantee  of  Hunston's  good  faith. 

Now  this  would,  he  thought,  make  Hunston  secure  ;  for 
once  let  the  spring  wear  through,  it  must  corrode,  and  then 
woe  be  to  the  wearer  of  the  arm ! 

During  the  progress  of  the  work,  Robert  Emmerson  had 
carefully  kept  the  nature  of  it  a  secret 

The  consequence  was  that  when  Hunston  appeared  on 
deck  amongst  his  comrades,  there  was  a  general  excitement. 

They  all  pronounced  it  a  marvellous  work,  and  Emmer- 
son was  quite  lionised  for  awhile. 

"  You  see  the  legend  it  bears  upon  the  arm,  my  friends  and 
comrades  all,"  said  Hunston.  "  Let  us  hope  it  may  be  true- 
Let  me  echo  the  wish  heartily,  sincerely.  'Woe  to  the 
wearer  if  raised  against  a  friend.'  " 

As  they  walked  aft,  Hunston  asked  Toro  what  was  the  day 
of  the  month. 

"  The  twenty-third." 

"  Good." 

"  You  know  what  occurs  to-day,"  said  Hunston. 

"  No,"  replied  Emmerson.     "  What  ?  " 

"  The  '  Franz  Josef '  sails  to-day." 

"  Of  course,"  said  Emmerson,  his  eyes  flashing  greedily : 
"  I  had  forgotten  for  the  moment." 

"  In  a  few  days  more  we  shall  have  them  in  our  clutches." 

"  I  hope  so." 

"It  is  sure." 


68  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  Remember    the   old    adage,"  said    Emmerson,  smiling ; 
"  '  there's  many  a  slip  'twixt  cup  and  lip.'  " 
Hunston  laughed. 

"  I  don't  think  there  is  much  chance  of  mishap  now." 
"  I  hope  not." 
"  I  am  sure  not. " 
"  Can  you  make  sure  of  your  agent,  Big — Big — what's  his 


name 


"  Bigamini." 

"  Ah,  Bigamini ;  is  he  to  be  relied  on  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  he's  the  prince  of  spies." 

"  Glad  to  hear  it,"  returned  Emmerson,  "  for  if  all  goes 
well,  this  should  be  a  splended  haul." 

"  Splendid !  "  echoed  Hunston ;  "  my  dear  Emmerson,  it 
will  make  us  rich  for  life.  " 

Emmerson  smiled  in  a  strange  manner. 

"  Do  you  doubt  it  ?  " 

"Not  I." 

"  Why  do  you  laugh,  then  ? " 

"  Partly  at  your  enthusiasm,  and  partly  at " 

"  At  what  ? " 

"  At  my  fancies." 

His  manner  was  slightly  tinged  with  melancholy,  and  it 
excited  Hunston's  curiosity. 

"  What  fancies  ?  " 

Emmerson  looked  very  solid  as  he  answered — 

"  I  think  that  I  shall  not  have  long  to  enjoy  whatever  spoil 
we  may  make." 

"Stuff!" 

Emmerson  smiled  though  sadly. 

"  You  laugh  at  such  fancies,  Hunston,"  he  said. 

"  I  do." 

"  I  don't  wonder  at  it.  Still  I  cannot  shake  it  off.  I  am 
sure  that  I  am  not  long-lived." 

"  Ah,  you  mustn't  trouble  yourself  about  that,"  said  Hun- 
ston, heartily.  "  Robert  Emmerson  is  worth  forty  dead  men 
yet." 

"  At  present,  yes,"  said  Emmerson. 

And  so  the  conversation  was  allowed  to  drop. 


It  was  midnight. 

All  was  silent  on  board  the  "  Flowery  Land." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  69 

In  the  old  doctors  cabin  a  solemn  conference  was  going  on 
between  young  Jack,  Harry  Girdwood,  and  the  doctor. 

They  were  debating  still  about  the  best  means  of  warning 
their  friends  against  the  threatening  danger  into  which  they 
had  been  decoyed  by  the  treachery  of  the  pirates'  spy, 
Rjgainini 

And  this  was  the  only  scheme  that  they  could  hit  upon. 

They  got  a  dozen  large  bottles  together,  and  in  each  they 
dropped  a  few  small  shot. 

This  was  to  be  used  as  a  steadier. 

Then  they  inserted  a  small  written  note  in  each  bottle  and 
carefully  sealed  and  corked  it. 

They  next  waxed  each  bottle  and  dipped  it  in  tar. 

This  done,  they  drew  a  broad  fine  of  white,  and  another  of 
red  around  the  top  of  the  bottle. 

And  when  the  first  of  these  was  completed,  young  Jack 
dropped  h  through  the  cabin  window  into  the  sea. 

Then  folio  wed  an  anxious  time  for  them  att.   Would  it  float? 

Would  it  attract  the  attention  of  a  passing  vessel  ? 

Alas !  it  was  doubtful. 

-  We  must  hope  for  the  best,"  said  the  American  doctor; 
"  it  is  our  only  chance,  and  I  have  a  presentiment  that  aU 
our  labour  and  all  our  perseverance  cannot 


And  so  the  good  old  gentleman  comforted  his  two  young 


Tl I"'J"    '•'* fllnii  lujjl  m^pilliiitlli  • 

completed  and  launched. 

Now,  as  it  chanced  to  be  fine  and  moonlight,  they  could 
plainly  see  their  bottles  dam-ing  on  the  water. 

"They  are  visible  enough,"  said  young  Jack. 

"  Our  only  hope  is  therefore  to  send  out  ei 
hope  for  the  best,1*  said  Harry  Girdwood. 

"True,"  said  the  American  doctor;  "our  hope  must  be  in 
Heaven  now." 

And  so  nightly  they  pursued  their  sett -set  task,  hoping  that 
Providence  would  send  the  "  Franz  Josef  "  across  their  little 


Josef"  across  then- little 
Doctor,"  said  young  Jack  one  night,  u  do  you 


floating  beacon  of  warning. 

lyoungjack 
how  yon  saved 

"When?" 

"When  they  followed  me  down  here  and  would  love  car- 
ried me  up  on  deck. " 

"Yes." 


•jo  JA CK  HA RKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  Do  you  remember  what  you  then  threatened  them  with  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"Was  there  any  truth  in  that  ?  " 

"  In  what  ?  " 

"  That  little  phial  that,  if  crushed,  would  send  the  whole 
ship  and  crew  to  the  bottom  ?  " 

"Yes,  undoubtedly,  it  is  true.  " 

"  Then,  "  said  young  Jack,  thoughtfully,  "  we  have  always 
that  one  resource  on  hand." 

The  American  doctor  looked  serious. 

"  We  have  ;  but  still  I  should  hesitate  to  use  it. " 

"  Even  in  a  very  extreme  case  ?  "  asked  young  Jack. 

"  Yes.  " 

"Then  you  just  give  it  to  me,  doctor, "  said  young  Jack, 
boldly.  "  I  shouldn't  myself.  " 

The  doctor  looked  more  serious  than  before. 

"  I  dare  say  not,  Jack,"  he  said,  quietly,  "  but  it  is  better  in 

•my  hands  at  present.  " 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

Harry  Girdwood  was  convalescent. 

Still  he  was  scarcely  fit  as  yet  for  violent  exercise. 

By  the  good  doctor's  orders  he  reclined  for  several  hours 
out  of  the  twenty-four  more  than  either  he  himself  or  young 
Jack  did. 

He  shared  all  their  counsels,  and  being  compelled  to  rest  so 
long  bodily  inactive,  his  mind  was  all  the  more  pliant  and 
industrious.  , 

And  one  solitary  thought  ever  occupied  it. 

Escape  ! 

At  a  first  glance  you  will  naturally  say  that  there  was  not 
much  scope  for  invention,  unless  he  started  by  some  plan 
which  was  too  full  of  risk  and  danger  to  be  contemplated  for 
an  instant. 

"Doctor,"  said  Harry  Girdwood,  late  one  night,  as  they 
were  about  to  commence  their  usual  conference,  "  and  you, 
Jack,  I  have  got  something  to  say  to  you  both,  something  to 
propose. " 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  said  the  doctor. 

"  I  have  a  plan  of  escape  to  suggest.  " 

"Is  it  practicable?" 

"  You  shall  hear  and  judge  for  yourself." 

"  Go  on,  Harry,  "  said  young  Jack,  who  was  all  eagerness 
to  hear  it. 


ADVENTURES  7.V  CHINA.  71 

"  In  the  first  place,  do  you  hear  that  creaking  noise  just 
overhead  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Do  you  know  what  it  is  ?  " 

"  It's  'the  boat  swinging  there,  and  it  creaks  with  rust  as  the 
ship  moves,  or  as  the  wind  blows.  " 

"  That's  it,  Jack,"  said  Harry  Girdwood,  "  and  it  was  that 
noise  that  first  gave  me  the  idea  as  I  lay  groaning  with  pain. 
At  first  it  was  only  a  confused  fancy,  but  by  degrees  I  have 
got  it  into  shape,  and  I  think  now  that  if  you  will  help  me,  we 
can  work  the  scheme  pretty  safely." 

"  Go  on.  "  said  young  Jack,  with  all  the  hot  eagerness  of 
youth. 

"  Proceed,  "  said  the  old  American,  more  gravely. 

u  I  thought  night  and  day  how  to  lower  that  boat  and  our- 
selves with  it.  We  must  get  a  store  of  food  together,  saved 
out  of  our  rations,  to  victual  the  boat,  and  we  must  get  fire- 
arms. The  next  thing  is  to  have  the  pulleys  so  well  greased 
in  advance  that  it  will  drop  down  into  the  water  without  any 
noise  at  a!L" 

The  doctor  smiled. 

"  That  is  a  difficult  job, "  he  said. 

"  Difficult, "  said  Jack,  with  eagerness ;  "  but  not  impos- 
sible." 

"  Perhaps !  *» 

"  And  what  about  the  watch  ?  "  asked  the  doctor. 

"You  must  do  that." 

"How?" 

"  Why,  you  must  have  plenty  of  drugs  that  could  send  them 
to  sleep'  for  any  length  of  time." 

"I  have,"  responded  the  doctor;  "the  only  difficulty 
would  be  to " 

"  To  administer  them,  "  said  young  Jack. 

"Yes." 

"That  shall  be  my  job,"  said  Harry;  "the  plan  of  the 
French  cook  was  a  good  one — all  that  it  wanted  was  care  in 
its  execution." 

"  True." 

"  To  avoid  rashness." 

"True  again." 

a  Well,  I  would  get  in  the  night  at  the  water  cask — tamper 
with  it  alL" 


7  2  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  My  dear  boy,  "  said  the  doctor,  "  that  is  a  bold  scheme 
— a  very  daring  notion." 

"  It  is,  doctor  ;  nothing  but  daring  can  save  us.  Would 
you  not  dare  something  to  get  out  of  this  floating  slaughter- 
house ? " 

"  I  would  indeed,  "  said  the  doctor,  with  a  sigh. 

"Then  join  us  in  our  scheme,"  said  young  Jack;  "I'm 
sure  it  sounds  well,  and  with  your  help  it  could  be  done,  I 
am  sure." 

The  doctor  made  no  reply. 

He  sat  moodily  for  a  long  while,  calculating  the  chances  of 
this  desperate  business. 

"  Well,  doctor  ? " 

"  Well,  my  dear  boys,  I  shall  join  you, "  he  said, "  but  only 
on  one  condition." 

"  Name  it." 

"  That  you  will  be  guided  by  me  and  avoid  rashness." 

"  I  promise." 

"  And  I  too." 

"  Then,  my  boys,  I  am  in  the  plan  heart  and  soul,  and  if 
you  only  join  the  greatest  caution  to  your  natural  tact  and 
skill,  something  good  will  be  sure  to  come  of  it." 

Well,  the  conspirators  passed  each  night  maturing  Harry 
Girdwood's  plan  of  escape. 

But  upon  the  third  day  a  misfortune  happened  to  them. 

One  of  the  crew,  a  Lascar,  named  Spirillo,  fell  from  the  rig- 
ging to  the  deck,  bruising  himself  rather  seriously. 

The  man  was  carried  by  his  comrades  into  the  cabin,  and 
the  doctor  had  to  attend  upon  him. 

The  injuries  the  man  had  received  were  of  such  a  nature 
that  they  feared  to  move  him. 

The  consequences  were  that  Spirillo  was  obliged  to  spend 
two  days  and  nights  with  them,  which  put  an  end  effectually 
to  their  proceedings  in  the  matter  of  the  escape. 

Now  the  doctor  was  by  nature  humane,  and  he  was  also  ex- 
ceedingly politic. 

"  It's  an  unfortunate  job,  Jack,"  said  he  to  our  young  hero, 
"  but  we  must  make  the  best  of  it.  We  have  a  double  motive 
in  getting  this  Spirillo  well  as  quickly  as  possible." 

"  Let  me  nurse  him,  then,"  said  young  Jack. 

"  You  can  if  you  like, "  said  the  good  doctor,  "  only  be  care- 

"  Trust  me,  sir." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  73 

"  And  attentive." 

"I  wilL" 

And  thus  our  hero,  young  Jack  Harkaway,  found  himself 
installed  in  the  office  of  chief  attendant  to  the  Lascar  Spi- 
rillo  one  of  the  ferocious,  bloodthirsty  pirates  who  had  so 
lately  sought  his  life. 

The  Lascar  received  young  Jack's  attentions  somewhat 
surlily  at  first,  but  the  boy's  winning  manner  soon  told  upon 
the  rough  Spirillo,  and  by  degrees  he  quite  wanned  up  to 
him. 

Then  it  was  that  young  Jack  suddenly  discovered  that 
Spirillo  was  any  thing  but  a  brutal  or  ferocious  man  at  the 
bottom,  indeed,  that  he  had,  under  the  very  roughest  of 
exteriors,  some  really  kind  feelings  and  worthy  attributes. 

Young  Jack  made  Spirillo  grow  quite  confidential  in  the 
course  of  a  day  or  so. 

And  by  degrees  he  learnt  all  the  Lascar's  past  history. 

It  was  not  without  a  certain  interest. 

But  we  have  not  space  here  to  give  it  in  his  own  words. 

Briefly,  then,  Spirillo  had  fallen  into  his  present  way  of 
life  by  pure  accident. 

Without  being  utterly  bad,  he  was  just  careless  enough  of 
his  reputation  and  morals  generally  to  drift  into  any  thing 
that  turned  up — whether  smuggling,  piracy,  or  even  slave- 
catching. 

He  had  originally  been  in  the  merchant  service,  and  his 
vessel  had  been  run  down  by  a  notorious  pirate — one  of  a 
whole  fleet — cruising  about  the  Greek  Archipelago. 

Here  he  had  spent  many  years  of  his  life. 

The  Greek  rover  had  spared  his  life  on  condition  of  his 
joining  them. 

Spirillo  might  have  chosen  the  career  had  he  had  the 
choice  left  free  to  him. 

With  such  an  ugly  alternative  as  losing  his  life,  he  did  not 
hesitate  half  a  second. 

And  so,  behold  Spirillo  drop  suddenly  from  being  a  bluff, 
honest  tar,  into  a  fullblown  pirate  ;  one  of  a  most  notorious 
gang,  with  a  heavy  price  upon  his  head,  and  a  rope  halter 
waiting  ready  for  him  whenever  he  should  be  captured. 

•  And  how  came  you  to  leave  the  Greeks?"  asked  young 
Jack. 

"  I  had  a  quarrel  with  the  captain,"  replied  Spirillo ;  "  it 
was  about  one  of  the  prisoners  taken.  I  knew  that  he  was 


1 4  JA  CA'  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

a  vicious  fellow ;  he  never  forgave  any  one  yet  for  so  much  as 
a  thoughtless  word — never  forgot  an  injury,  however  slight 
or  even  unintentional.  So  I  made  my  escape." 

"  Where  ? " 

"  Here." 

"  What,  direct  ?  " 

"  Almost." 

"But  did  you  know  of  these  people  when  you  lived 
cruising  about  in  those  latitudes  ?  " 

The  Lascar  pirate  stared  in  a  peculiar  way  at  the 
questioner. 

"  You  mustn't  be  too  curious,"  he  said. 

"  I  don't  mean  to  be  indiscreet,"  said  young  Jack, 
hastily  ;  "  pray  don't  let  me  annoy  you  by  my  questions." 

"You  don't,"  responded  Spirillo,  quite  melted  by  the 
eagerness  of  young  Jack  to  make  himself  agreeable.  "  Ask 
all  you  wish  ;  there  is  only  that  that  I  shall  refuse  to  tell  you 
— nothing  more.  Any  thing  about  the  old  gang  I'm  free  to 
speak  about — any  thing — it's  only  of  these  that  I  must,  of 
course,  keep  silent." 

"  Then  just  one  question,  please,"  said  young  Jack  ;  "  could 
those  Greeks  make  large  fortunes  out  of  their  plunder  ?  " 

"Some  of  them." 

"  How,  some  ?  " 

"  The  captain  and  some  of  the  officers." 

"  I  see." 

"There  is  a  treasure  in  the  pirates'  island  of  the 
Archipelago  that  would  make  the  fortune  combined  of 
Rothschild,  Oppenheim,  Baring,  Pereire,  and  a  score  more." 

Jack  smiled. 

"  It's  a  big  one,  then,  Spirillo,"  he  said. 

"  You  are  right,  young  fellow,  it  is.  You  have  read  the 
tales  of  the  '  Thousand  and  One  Nights,'  I  suppose  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  you  remember  the  tale  of  '  Ali  Baba  '  ? " 

"  I  do,  indeed,"  said  young  Jack ;  "  you  would  speak  of  the 
Forty  Thieves'  treasure  ? " 

"Yes." 

"  Well,  and  is  there  such  a  fairy-like  cove  in  your  pirate 
island  ?" 

"  You  may  laugh,  young  fellow,  but  it  is  literally  so.  The 
wildest  fancy  can  not  exaggerate  the  fabulous  wealth  of  the 
treasure." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  75 

"  Whose  treasure  is  it  now  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  One  man's." 

"One!" 

"  Yes,  one — the  captain's.  This,  the  wealth  of  a  kingdom, 
has  been  amassed  by  him  in  one  generation.  Daring, 
courage,  and  some  skill,  too,  have  made  him,  beyond  all 
manner  of  doubt,  the  richest  man  upon  the  face  of  the  earth ! " 

Jack  stared. 

The  picture  that  Spirillo  drew  took  his  breath  away. 

There  is  something  awe-inspiring  in  hearing  of  such 
fortunes. 

"  And  what  does  this  captain  do  now  ?  "  asked  he  ;  "does 
he  still  cruise  about  to  plunder  poor  wretches  who  haven't  a 
tithe  of  the  riches  which  he  himself  possesses?" 

Spirillo  shook  his  head  as  he  replied — 

"  Monastos  is  a  great  man  now." 

"  Where?" 

"  Athens." 

"What!"  exclaimed  young  Jack,  "has  he  ventured  to 
trust  himself  there  ?  " 

"  In  Greece  they  are  not  particular.  The  government 
winks  at  many  things,  especially  the  origin  of  a  man  who 
can  lend  it  a  million  at  a  day's  notice." 

"  Wonderful !"  exclaimed  young  Jack. 

"  Why,  Captain  Monastos  is  a  power  in  the  land,"  Spirillo 
went  on  to  say.  "  A  man  of  more  importance  than  prime 
minister — aye,  or  even  king.  He  \sfeted,  and  courted,  and 
fawned  upon  more  than  any  man  in  Athens." 

"  And  all  this  upon " 

" Plunder;  don't  pause— that's  the  word,  but  I'd  dearly 
like  to  get  at  it." 

"At  what?" 

"  His  treasure." 

"  Do  you  know  where  it  is  ?  " 

"Yes';  and  I  suppose  that  I  am  about  the  only  Irving  man 
who  does." 

"Indeed." 

"  Besides  himself.  The  secret  was  shared  by  few,  and  of 
this  few  I  was  one.  The  others  who  were  in  the  secret  with 
me  died  off  one  by  one  by  sickness  in  such  a  mysterious  man- 
ner  that  I  deemed  it  prudent  to  get  out  of  the  way  in  time." 

"  Why  not  go  and  secure  it,  Spirillo?"  said  young  Jack. 
"Why  stay  here  working  for  nothing  with  men  you  care 


7  6  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 


nothing  for,  and  in  a  black,  bad  trade,  when,  by  helping 
yourself  to  Captain  Monastos's  treasure,  you  will  only  be 
helping  yourself  to  your  own  ?  " 

Spirillo's  eyes  flashed  as  young  Jack  spoke,  and  he 
remained  buried  in  thought  for  some  little  time. 

"  Shall  I  tell  you  the  truth,  young  fellow  ? "  he  said 
presently. 

"Yes." 

"  Well,  the  truth  is  this ;  I  have  thought  of  it.  I  do  think 
of  it.  Not  a  day  of  my  life  but  I  think  of  it.  But  to  get  at 
it  involves  many  difficulties." 

"  What  are  they  ?  " 

"  I  couldn't  do  it  alone." 

"  Well  ? " 

"  I  should  have  to  trust  my  secret  with  others.  I  should 
want  capital  and  a  ship,  and  a  daring,  bold  fellow  or  two 
with  me ! " 

"  And  if  you  find  all  these,  Spirillo  ? " 

"  Why,  then,  I'd  think  seriously  about  it." 

"  What  would  you  say  if  I  could  show  you  how  to  get  it 
all — money,  men,  a  ship  ?  " 

"You?" 

"Yes." 

"  Who  are  the  people  ? " 

"My  father  and  his  old  friend  Dick  have  all  that  is 
required  for  such  an  expedition." 

"  How  should  we  get  at  them  ? " 

"  I  must  escape  from  here  first,"  said  young  Jack,  looking 
Spirillo  straight  in  the  eyes. 

"  Escape  ?  "  cried  the  Lascar,  leaping  up  from  his  couch 
and  grasping  Jack  fiercely  by  the  wrist. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
YOUNG  JACK'S  NEW  FRIEND — THE  PLOT  THICKENS— CAUGHT. 

JACK  quietly  released  himself  from  the  Lascar's  grasp, 
and  repeated  the  words — 

"  We  may  escape." 

"  Humph  !  I  will  think  of  it  when  I  am  better.  But  not  a 
word  to  anyone." 

In  a  few  days,  Spirillo  was  cured. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHIXA.  77 

He  returned  to  the  deck  and  his  duties  generally. 
He  came  down  as  often  as  his  doty  would  permit  to  see 
me  doctor,  and  young  Jack  never  failed  to  profit  by  these 


He  had  seen,  with  a  shrewdness  far  beyond  his  years, 
the  effect  of  luswcnfc  upon  SpirffloL 

Spinilowotdd  ask  young  Jack,  every  time  that  the  subject 
was  broached,  if  he  was  sore  of  his  father,  and  if  he  could 
guarantee  that  his  father  would  enter  into  so  wild  a  scheme 
as  die  expedition  after  die  pirate's  treasure  in  the  Greek 


-I'm  sore  of  him  as  I  am  of  myself,"  replied  young  Jack. 
-  Spirillo,  you  don't  know  my  fadier— God  bless  him!  Why, 
his  gratitude  to  anybody  who  had  shown  me  any  kiiMlqfy^ 
would  guarantee  his  consent." 

"Perhaps,"  aid  Spirfflo  dubiously. 

-  He  wouid  want  the  tale  to  be  borne  out  by  something  in 
proof,  that's  alL" 

"That  can  be  easily  done." 
"How?" 

"  Here  is  the  plan  of  the  place.  Yon  may  take  charge  of 
it,  young  feQow." 

So  saying,  he  handed  over  a  roll  of  paper  to  young  Jack. 

-  Can .lira*  jam,  Spirillo  ?  "  he  said. 
Spirillo  frowned. 

"Have  I  not  trusted  you?  "he  said,  pointing  to  die  roll  of 

"Of  course.    Forgh«  my  words;  only  caution  must  be  used. 
We  are  surrounded  here  by  danger." 
"True." 

"  I  can  tefl  you  how  we  could  escape." 
*•  The  deuce  you  can.     How?" 

-  You  see  that  boat  dot  swings  tiiere,  creaking  in  die  rusty 
davits  over  your  cabin  ?" 

"Yes." 

"If  a  reason  could  be  found  for  lowering  that  boat  and  let 
ting  her  be  towed  along  astern,  I  could  do  the  rest." 
Spirillo  s  eyes  brightened  at  diese  words. 
"Is  dot  afl?" 
«AIL" 
"Then  ft  is  done,"  said  die  pirate. 

****** 

That  night  the  boat  was  being  towed  along  astern. 


7  8  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Young  Jack  ran  down  gleefully  to  carry  the  news  to  the 
doctor  and  Harry  Girdwood. 

The  doctor  was  elated  at  this. 

"  Jack,  my  son,"  said  he,  "  I  believe  now  that  we  shall 
carry  it  through." 

"  Believe,"  cried  young  Jack  ;  "  it  is  a  certainty." 

"We  must  get  the  boat  under  the  window  here  to-night," 
said  Harry  Girdwood,  "and  lower  our  provisions  and  arms 
into  it." 

"We  can  manage  that." 

"  And  then  we  have  but  to  lower  ourselves." 

"  And  Spirillo,"  said  the  doctor. 

"  Of  course.  It  would  indeed  be  base  ingratitude  to  play 
him  false,"  said  young  Jack. 

"  How  did  Spirillo  manage  it  ?  "  asked  Harry  Girdwood. 

"  Under  pretext  of  greasing  the  chains  and  davits,"  was 
the  reply. 

"  The  only  thing  remaining  is  to  get  Spirillo  to  learn  our 
latitude  very  precisely,  and  get  a  chart,  so  that  we  may  be 
able  to  steer  to  the  nearest  port  when  once  we  get  clear,  and 
not  drift  about  hopelessly  in  mid  ocean." 

"  We  can  manage  that,"  said  young  Jack. 

At  a  little  after  sundown  young  Jack  went  up  on  deck,  in 
hopes  of  coming  across  his  friend  and  accomplice,  Spirillo, 

The  latter  was  on  the  look-out  for  him. 

At  a  single  glance,  young  Jack  perceived  that  there  was 
something  amiss,  for  Spirillo's  look  showed  uneasiness. 

He  made  a  sign  to  young  Jack,  not  to  speak  with  him  yet, 
until  they  were  sure  that  they  were  not  observed. 

Then,  having  assured  himself  upon  this  point,  he  beckoned 
the  boy  aside. 

"  Jack,"  said  the  Lascar,  in  low,  earnest  tones,  "  I  want  to 
say  a  word  to  you  that  is  very  serious." 

Jack  stared. 

"  Serious?" 

"Yes." 

"Indeed?" 

"  Your  life  is  in  danger,  a  very  great  danger." 

"  How?" 

"  You  have  some  bad  enemies  on  board." 

Young  Jack  smiled. 

"  That  is  no  news,"  he  said  :  "  and  I  know  to  whom  you 
allude." 


ADVENTURES  Uf  CHWA.  79 


that  there  ts  a  great 

but  I  bare  baffled  them  before  now  in 
as  this,  and  I  have  the  giealesl  con- 
stared  at  young  Jack,  and  smikd  dubiously,  aa  he 


-  You  are  a  hove  boy  of  England,  and  I  hope  your  cou- 
•dence  in  yourself  may  not  be  misplaced  this  time.  The 
danger  is  great.  Toro  and  his  friend,  your  feQow  country- 
man, hate  you  worse  than  poison,  and  you  witt  hare  to  die." 

- 1  do  not  fear  them." 

-They  mean  it  tins  time." 

«  They  have  offem  mem*  it,"  said  young  Jack,- bat  they 
coclda't  manage  it.  Besides,  now  I  know  that  the  captain 
of  the 'Flowery  Land7! 

"He  does." 

I  to  fear,  then,  if  the 


"Evtij  thing.    They  dare  not  oppose  die 
pedaly  as  his  pmpose  for  keeping  you  afire  is  but  to  get  a 
hi  •••  mi  !<••  front  TOUT  tuiriits  for  you.™ 

tt  Of  comse," 

your  two  enemies  mean  yon  to  die:  they  are   op- 


posed by  all  the  crew  as  wefl  as  die  captain.    Therefore  they 
have  been  conspiring  topotanendtoyoaonthe  quiet,  so 


-They  mean  to  get  hold  of  you,  ai 
m  the  n^it,  wnfle  the  carjeain  and  the  crew  are  att 
Jack  shivered, 
-That's  awkward,"  he  said,  "and  when  do  they 


carry  out  the  amiable  plot?" 
•*  To-night,  if  they  can." 
Very  good; I  must  be  on  my  guard.     But  how  did  yon 

-  .:  ?  - 


if  they 
y  goo 
kamit 
-Br 
their  thoughts 


-By  overhearing  their  schemes.    They  did  not  dugaiaL 
toughts  before  me.    They  conveiaed  very  freely  in 


dot  I 


**Good!" 

B  You  hare  out  to  keep  out  of  their  way  tonight.    lathe 
I  wiU  put  the  captain  on  his  guard,  and  then  woe 
if  they  dare  Eft  ah 


So  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Young  Jack  shook  the  pirate's  hand  warmly. 

"  You  are  a  real  friend,  Spirillo,"  he  said,  earnestly,  "  and 
I  hope  to  show  my  gratitude  to  you  in  some  tangible  form 
soon." 

"  Help  me  to  get  the  treasure,  my  lad,  and  I  shall  have  all 
the  reward  that  I  want." 

"That  you  may  count  upon." 

"  Right,  and  now  back  to  your  cabin.  Away  with  you. 
Good- night ! " 

"  Good-night !  " 

The  boy  turned  from  his  new-found  friend,  and  made  for 
the  cabin  stairs. 

Just  as  he  was  upon  the  top  step,  a  hand  was  placed  upon 
his  shoulder. 

A  cloth  was  thrown  over  his  head,  and  he  was  lifted  up  in 
a  pair  of  brawny  arms  and  borne  away. 

In  the  toils ! 

The  boy  gasped. 

The  full  sense  of  his  danger  flashed  across  him. 

His  hand  had  been  resting  upon  his  knife  when  he  was 
caught  up,  and  this  proved  of  very  material  assistance  to  him 
in  the  dire  extremity. 

He  jerked  his  arm  free  and  lunged  out  with  his  knife  at 
random. 

He  struck  something,  and  the  knife  went  in  pretty  deeply. 

So  deeply  that  his  captor  gave  a  cry  of  pain,  and  then,  as 
young  Jack  wriggled  with  desperation,  he  dropped  upon  the 
deck. 

To  scramble  up  and  make  off  was  the  work  of  a  moment. 

Two  men  rushed  after  him. 

First  was  Hunston. 

Next  was  Toro. 

The  latter,  as  he  came  on,  was  busily  engaged  in  bind- 
ing his  right  arm,  which  the  boy's  knife  had  gone  right 
through. 

Young  Jack  flew  on  like  the  wind,  dodged  round  a  heap  of 
luggage  piled  up  on  the  deck,  and  glided  down  the  cabin 
stairs. 

They  were  close  upon  him  in  an  instant. 

"I'm  safe  now,"  thought  young  Jack;  "they  will  never 
dare  to  follow  me  here." 

But  barely  had  the  thought  flashed  through  his  mind  when 
he  made  an  alarming  discovery. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  8 1 

A  discovery  which  chilled  his  very  bood. 

In  the  confusion  of  his  flight  he  had  not  got  into  the  right 
cabin. 

In  a  berth  at  the  farther  end  of  the  cabin  was  a  man 
stretched  at  full  length  upon  his  back,  and  tossing  about 
restlessly. 

The  face  and  form  were  alike  familiar. 

A  step  nearer,  and  young  Jack  recognised  in  that  man  the 
notorious  Robert  Emmerson ! 

Robert  Emmerson  the  murderer ! 

Poor  Jack  felt  he  was  lost ! 

Here  was  his  retreat  cut  off. 

Emmerson  here,  his  two  bitterest  enemies  up  the  cabin 
stairs. 

Perhaps  they  had  passed  the  stairs  and  did  not  know  that 
he  was  there. 

Quick  as  thought,  he  crept  up  the  steps. 

But  before  he  could  put  his  head  out  of  the  hatchway,  be 
heard  Hunston's  voice  close  by  his  ear — 

"He  is  not  far  off." 

Jack  drew  back. 

Down  he  went  again  on  tip-toe,  and  just  as  he  got  Co  the 
bottom,  they  were  on  the  top  peering  down. 

"  He  must  have  gone  down  there." 

"  Stop  a  bit, "  said  Hunston.  "  You  stay  on  guard  here, 
Toro,  while  I  get  round.  The  brat  is  as  slippery  as  an  eeL 
We  mustn't  leave  him  half  a  chance." 

The  boy's  heart  sank. 

He  had  but  one  faint  hope. 

This  was  that  they  would  go  further  to  resume  their  search, 
and  that  he  could  make  a  bolt  for  his  own  cabin. 

The  boy  crept  nearer  yet  to  Emmerson's  berth. 

It  was  got  up  with  a  certain  amount  of  elaboration  and  lux- 
ury for  a  cabin  of  a  pirate  ship,  and  the  bed  was  hung  with 
damask  curtains,  which  now  served  young  Jack  as  a  hiding- 
place. 

Now,  as  he  stood  here,  his  attention  was  gradually  fixed 
by  the  disturbed  appearance  of  the  sleeping  Emmerson. 

The  murderer's  dreams  were  evidently  of  an  unpleasant 
nature. 

No  wonder. 

Man  may  occasionally  elude  the  vigilance  of  the  law  for 
the  crimes  of  which  Emmerson  was  guilty,  but  there  is  a  worse 


82  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

punishment  than  the  hand  of  man  can  inflict,  which  he  could 
not  escape. 

The  workings  of  a  guilty  conscience. 

Robert  Emmerson  did  not  know  what  rest  was. 

Never  a  night  passed  in  quiet  rest. 

Barely  did  he  close  his  eyes  ere  the  shadows  of  Nabley  the 
elder  and  of  Saul  Garcia,  the  Jew  miser,  haunted  his  dreams. 

Ghostly  and  forbidding  they  looked,  and  the  words  they 
whispered  in  his  ears  were  always  upon  the  same  strain — 
warnings,  dire  forebodings  ! 

Just  at  the  moment  that  young  Jack  came  down  he  was  with 
his  last  victim,  the  wretched  murdered  old  Jew. 

Saul  Garcia,  robed  as  Emmerson  had  last  seen  him — his 
pallid  face  whiter  even  than  his  night  clothes — with  the  blood 
fresh  from  his  many  wounds,  and  bedabbling  his  long,  thin, 
grey  hair  ! 

The  shade  of  his  victim  did  not  speak  to  him,  but  it  placed 
its  long,  thin  fingers  upon  his  arm  and  they  closed  upon  it ! 

Then  while  the  miserable  man  was  shrinking  from  the  shade 
of  Saul  Garcia,  he  felt  himself  dragged  from  his  bed  through 
miles  and  miles  of  the  ocean,  emerging  in  a  bright  and  sunny 
land. 

In  his  dream  the  shade  of  Saul  Garcia  dragged  him  on 
across  waving  cornfields,  until  they  came  upon  an  English 
village. 

It  was  a  pretty,  bright  scene ;  there  was  the  village  green 
away  to  the  left,  the  old-fashioned  Norman  church  close  to  it, 
with  its  quaintly-built  parsonage  adjoining,  and  just  a  field  off 
was  a  more  modern  brick  building  with  a  miniature  belfry 
over  it. 

The  bell  was  just  tolling  the  boys  out  of  school. 

One  of  these  young  scholars  caught  Emmerson's  attention 
at  once. 

He  was  a  fair-haired  boy,  with  blue  eyes  and  a  clear  com- 
plexion. 

A  handsome,  well-built  boy,  with  an  expression  that  was 
frank  and  manly. 

There  was  something  in  that  boy  of  all  the  others  which 
greatly  interested  Emmerson. 

It  was  himself  in  his  boyhood. 

And  he  followed  the  boy's  path  homewards. 

His  way  lay  across  a  large  tract  of  green  meadow  land,  be- 
yond which  he  came  to  a  lane  cut  between  two  hills. 


ADVENTURES  Uff  CHINA.  83 

As  the  fair-haired  scholar  passed  through  this  nvine,  a  low 
whistle  was  heard  that  caused  him  to  look  op. 

Then  a  nan  poshed  his  way  through  the  boshes,  and  catch- 
ing; hold  of  an  overhanging;  branch  of  a  tree,  he  swung  him- 
self, with  considerable  agility,  down  into  the  lane  right  before 


The  bo  j  was  a  bit  startled  at  first,  but  be  soon  recovered 

nself, 

And  then  there  took  place  between  diem  an  earnest  con- 


It  was  cSear  that  dse  swaidiv,  gipsy-looking  man  was  tempt- 
mgtheboy— tfiat  the  boy  was  resisting  die 


The  gipsy  now  brought  out  a  big,  old-fashioned  silver 
watch  as  a  bribe  for  die  boy. 

And  die  latter  wavered. 

Then  Fmmmnn  grew  strangely  excited  as  he  watched  die 
:-. .: 

Excited,  too,  in  die  eager  hope  dial  die  boy  would  not  yield. 

Strange  this! 

Strange,  for  so  utter  a  viBain  as  Robert  Emmerson  to  be 
now  so  troubled  in  his  dream. 

His  dream  still  continued,  and  he  sawthat  die  boy's  good 
nature  louquqcd,  and  he  went  on  his  way. 

And  dten  Emmerson  could  not  repress  a  cry  of  joy. 

The  gipsy  fellow  ran  after  die  fair-haired  boy,  and  caught 
him  by  the 'collar. 

He  took  out  an  ngry-lookingkntfe,  and  flourished  it  before 
die  Hide  fellow's  eyes. 

But  die  boy,  too^ucky  for  the  gipsy,  docked  under  his  legs 
and  bolted  oft;  while  die  gipsy  toppled  over  and  scrambled 
upon  die  ground. 

Emmerson,  in  his  dream,  gave  a  jujO«i  laugh. 

And  then  die  scene  had  faded  away. 

All  w 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  FATS  OF  ROBERT  EMMKR9OS— TOC1BG  JACK  AT  BAT. 

once  more  looked  around  hii 


The  shade  of  Saul  Garcia  was  stfll  before  him. 
Tie  long,  bony  fingers  still  clutched  his  arm. 


84  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

The  Jew  spake  not,  but  waving  his  hand  once  more,  silently 
invited  Emmerson's  attention  again. 
'  The  scene  was  changed. 

Before  him  now  was  a  homely,  pleasant  interior,  and  there 
were  two  actors  in  this  scene,  both  of  whom  caused  every  pulse 
in  Emmerson's  body  to  vibrate  with  strong  emotions. 

And  why  ? 

Because  the  most  prominent  figure  of  the  two  was  the  wo- 
man who  had  cared  for  him  from  his  tenderest  infancy — who 
had  nurtured  him  with  a  fond  affection  that  none  but  a  mother 
could  show. 

Yes  !  it  was  the  shadow  of  his  mother. 

The  other  figure  was  the  fair-haired,  blue-eyed  boy  who  had 
just  fled  from  the  gipsy  tempter. 

And  that  bright  little  lad  was — himself ! 

Emmerson  gazed,  awe-stricken,  at  these  figures — so  real,  so 
life-like,  which  his  conductor  conjured  up  in  dreamland. 

And  now  Emmerson  could  see  that  the  two  were  convers- 
ing, but  he  could  not  catch  their  words. 

But  their  gestures  were  full  of  meaning. 

He  was  describing  to  his  mother  the  danger  from  which  he 
had  just  escaped. 

The  mother  showed  her  fears  as  he  went  on,  and  then  she 
was  full  of  gratitude  for  his  safe  delivery  from  peril. 

He  undressed  himself,  and  prepared  for  bed,  and  then,  be- 
fore going  to  rest  for  the  night,  he  knelt  devoutly  at  his 
mother's  knees,  and  they  lifted  their  voices  together  in  prayer. 

The  fair  boy's  bright  face  and  his  innocent  eyes  looked  up 
to  her,  and  she  looked  fondly  down  upon  him. 

It  was  an  eloquent  picture  of  filial  affection  and  parental 
tenderness. 

He  thought  he  heard  a  stern  voice  speak. 

"  Do  you  recognise  the  group  ?  " 

Emmerson  started,  rudely  aroused  from  contemplation  of 
this  touching  picture,  and  there  was  the  shade  of  Saul  Garcia 
pointing  solemnly  to  the  scene. 

Emmerson  felt  sensations  which  had  been  strangers  to  his 
breast  for  many  and  many  a  long  year. 

"  Speak,"  said  the  shade  of  the  Jew  ;  "  answer  me." 

"  Alas !  "  responded  Emmerson,  "  I  do." 

And  with  his  answer  came  a  deep-drawn  sigh,  telling  of  re- 
morse that  was  more  agony  than  any  physical  suffering  could 
possibly  be. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  85 

"  You  remember  it  ?  "  said  the  shade  of  Saul  Garcia,  in  the 
same  sepulchral  tones.  "  Now  look  again." 

Emmerson  involuntarily  obeyed. 

The  scene  was  changed. 

The  actors  were  the  same  as  before. 

The  bright-looking  boy  was  in  bed ;  his  mother  stood  on 
the  threshold — lamp  in  hand. 

She  bade  her  boy  a  fond  and  lingering  good-night,  and 
then  withdrew,  leaving  the  boy  to  his  slumbers. 

He  was  asleep  almost  immediately. 

Then  after  a  brief  interval  a  light  shone  faintly  in  at  the 
window. 

A  moment  or  so  after,  the  window  was  forced  noiselessly 
open,  and  a  dark,  swarthy  face  appeared. 

It  was  the  gipsy. 

The  ruffian  who  had  met  the  boy  in  the  lane,  and  tempt- 
ing him  in  vain  threatened  his  life. 

Emmerson,  in  his  spell-bound  dream,  watched  in  breath- 
less expectation  for  the  next  incident  in  this  dark  scene. 

The  gipsy  darkened  the  lantern  awhile ;  then  clambered 
into  the  room. 

But  as  he  walked,  his  footfalls  were  not  heard ;  they  made 
not  the  slightest  noise. 

He  moved  like  a  shadow. 

His  feet  were  provided  with  the  soft  list  overshoes  such 
as  burglars  are  reputed  to  wear  in  their  nefarious  calling. 

The  intruder  listened  at  the  door. 

Then  he  made  himself  secure  against  interruption  by  fast- 
ening the  door  on  the  inside. 

This  done,  he  stole  back  to  the  bed,  and  flashed  the  bull's- 
eye  lantern  in  the  sleeper's  face  until  the  glare  aroused 
him. 

As  the  boy  opened  his  eyes,  he  was  dazzled  with  the  fierce 
blaze,  and  he  failed  to  recognise  the  intruder  until  the  gipsy 
spoke. 

"  Bob,  you  must  come  with  me  ! " 

The  boy  refused. 

He  was  full  of  fears,  but  he  stoutly  refused  to  go  with  the 


icreupon  the  latter  seized  him  by  the  throat,  and  bran- 
dished the  knife  in  his  face,  and  it  seemed  as  if  murder  was 
imminent 

Emmerson  could  look  no  more  thus  passively. 


S6  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

He  made  a  rush  to  help  the  boy,  but  suddenly  the  shade 
of  Saul  Garcia  seemed  invested  with  a  giant's  strength,  and 
he  dragged  him  back  with  the  greatest  ease. 

Emmerson  fought  desperately,  but  he  fought  in  vain. 

And  in  the  middle  of  this  horrible  nightmare  his  struggles 
aroused  him,  and  he  awoke. 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

"  Where  am  I?  "he  murmured,  confusedly.  "What,  a 
dream  only  ?  But,  oh,  how  dreadful ! " 

He  stretched  out  his  hand  for  the  light. 

He  raised  it. 

Something  was  beside  him. 

It  was  a  boy  kneeling  at  his  bed. 

It  was  young  Jack. 

The  boy's  fair  face  was  turned  upwards  appealingly,  and 
as  Emmerson  looked,  the  face  so  reminded  him  of  the  one 
he  had  just  seen  in  his  vision  that  he  could  scarce  believe 
that  he  was  awake. 

"  Will  this  never  be  over  ?  "  he  muttered,  passing  his  hand 
across  his  eyes ;  "  shall  I  never  wake  ?  " 

"  Save  me !  "  cried  young  Jack.     "  Save  me  !  " 

Emmerson  stared  half  stupefied  at  him. 

"  Why,  I  know  you — you  are  young  Harkaway." 

"  Yes." 

"  How  came  you  here  ?     What  do  you  want  ? " 

The  voices  of  Toro  and  Hunston  were  heard  just  then  al 
the  top  of  the  steps. 

"  He  must  have  gone  down  there." 

"  Never.  It  is  Emmerson's  berth ;  the  boy's  as  sharp  as  a 
needle.  He  knows  that  as  well  as  you  do.  He'd  never  vent- 
ure down  there." 

"  I  don't  care  where  he  has  ventured,"  said  Toro.  "  Once 
let  me  put  my  hand  upon  him " 

Young  Jack  looked  up  imploringly  at  Emmerson. 

"  You  will  not  let  them  harm  me  !  "  he  urged.  "  You  were 
young  once  yourself,  and  you'll  let  me  hide  here,  I  know." 

Young  Jack's  stammering  appeal  touched  Robert  Emmer- 
son, in  his  present  state  of  mind,  more  than  words  far  more 
eloquent  could  have  done. 

How  could  he  forget  the  dream  of  his  own  youth,  when  he 
had  only  just  seen  himself  back  in  his  boyhood  as  plainly 
and  as  vividly  as  he  now  saw  young  Jack? 

It  all  flashed  through  his  mind  in  those  few  moments. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  87 


He  was  bade  in  the  past,  and  tracing  his  < 


he  had  looked  upon  those  two  scenes  of  his  boyhood  until 
now. 

Step  by  step  he  traced  his  fall  and  his  progress  in  guilt 
up  to  this. 

And  all  this  panorama  of  a  life  flashed  before  bis  eyes  in 
the  space  of  a  minute,  and  then  he  was  recalled  to  himself  by 
hearing  footsteps  on  the  companion  ladder. 

"  Save  me  ? "  cried  young  Jack,  despairingly. 

He  clambered  upon  Emmerson's  bed,  crawled  over  him, 
and  crouched  down  behind  him  for  protection. 

He  could  not  know  what  was  passing  in  the  guilty  Emmer- 
son's mind.  He  could  not  see  the  workings  of  that  over- 
charged conscience. 

What,  then,  could  have  induced  him  to  seek  refuge  there  ? 

Instinct 

"You're  safe  here,  mv  boy."  said  Emmerson.  placing  his 
hand  kindly  on  Jack's  head.' 

Hunston  appeared  on  the  steps. 

He  paused  and  turned  to  his  companion. 

•*  Keep  a  sharp  lookout  up  there,  Toro,"  said  he ;  **  don't 
let  him  slip." 

"  Trust  me,"  replied  the  ex-brigand.  "  If  he  slips  through 
my  fingers,  IT!  forgive  him." 

Hunston  advanced,  and  then  young  Jack  began  to  tremble 
with  apprehension. 

He  would  have  crouched  down  behind  Emmerson,  but  the 
latter  would  not  allow  this. 

"Stand  up,"  he  said;  "there's  no  fear  while  you  are  with 

nw*  ** 

Hunston  heard  the  voice  and  ran  down. 

Just  as  he  reached  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  he  called  out  to 
Toro  to  follow  him. 

"  Come  on,"  he  shouted ;  "  I  have  him,  Toro." 

Toro  replied  with  a  chuckle,  and  ran  down  after  his  com- 
panion in  crime. 

"  You  young  viper ! "  exclaimed  Hunston,  "  let  me  crush 
yon." 

And  he  advanced  a  pace  to  drag  young  Jack  out. 

"  Stand  off,"  said  Emmerson,  springing  up ;  "  the  boy  is 
under  mv  protection,  and  yon  must  not  harm  him." 

"  Must  not!"  echoed  Hunston,  fiercely.  "  What  does  this 
mean?0 


88  JA  CK  HARK  A  IV A  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  Must  not !  "  repeated  Emmerson,  with  a  kind  of  dogged 
determination. 

"  Oh  !  "  cried  Hunston,  scornfully,  "  we  will  soon  see  this. 
Here,  Toro !  " 

"  Here,"  returned  Toro,  entering  just  then. 

"  Hark  you,  my  friends,"  said  Emmerson  ;  I  want  this  boy 
spared." 

"  You,  Emmerson,  want  him  spared — what  for  ? " 

"  Why,"  said  Toro,  "  he  belongs  to  the  crew  that  are  our 
worst  enemies.  Harkaway  and  his  set  have  ruined  us,  and 
shall  we  spare  him  now  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  No,  a  thousand  times  no !  "  cried  Toro. 

"  It's  only  to  please  me,"  persisted  Emmerson,"  and  surely 
you  cannot  refuse  me  so  small  a  matter  as  this  boy's  life. 
Besides,  consider,  the  captain  and  crew  wish  him  spared 
for  the  rich  ransom  they  can  get." 

"  Stuff  !  "  cried  Toro  ;  "give  us  up  the  boy." 

They  looked  threatening,  but  Emmerson  was  not  to  be 
daunted. 

He  had  often  shown  courage  in  a  bad  cause ;  he  was  not 
to  be  cowed  now  that  he  was  acting  in  a  good  one. 

"  I  advise  you  both  to  keep  back,"  cried  Emmerson,  "for 
I  now  tell  you,  rather  than  have  this  brave  lad  hurt,  I  would 
have  both  your  lives." 

"  Your  life  then  against   ours,"  cried    Hunston,  fiercely. 

As  they  advanced,  Emmerson  made  one  step  back,  and 
turning  round,  he  made  a  grab  at  a  pair  of  loaded  pistols 
that  hung  over  his  bed,  but  before  he  could  reach  them,  Hun- 
ston was  upon  him. 

In  his  iron  hand  was  fastened  a  long,  ugly  knife,  and  lift- 
ing this  high  above  him,  he  brought  it  down  with  fearful 
force  upon  the  stooping  Emmerson. 

The  blow  needed  no  repetition. 

"  Coward  !  "  cried  Emmerson,  looking  fixedly  at  Hunston, 
then  he  gave  a  dull,  hollow  groan,  and  rolled  over. 

Hunston  started  back  aghast. 

Toro  was  considerably  startled  at  the  deed. 

Young  Jack  was  ready  to  help  himself  by  this  time. 

He  had  noticed  Emmerson's  effort  to  get  at  the  pistols, 
and  he  caught  them  up  in  a  moment. 

"  Stand  off,"  he  cried,  presenting  these  ;  "  here's  one  for 
each  of  you." 


AD1TE&TURES  IH  CHIWA.  *j 

was  in  a  very  bad  way  by  now. 

He  supported  himself  upon  one  arm,  and  tried  vainly  to 
rise. 

"  You  have  done  for  me,  Hunston,"  he  said, faintly,  "and 
with  that  arm  too." 

44  What  did  you  interfere  for  ?"  growled  Hunston.  in  a  sa£v 
tone.  "  You  asked  for  it,  and  you  got  it.  Let  me  look  at 
your  hurt." 

"Keepback/*  replied  Emmeison;  "  it  is  past  your  aid 
now." 

Hunston  would  have  helped  him,  but  Emmeison  shrank 
from  him. 

Young  Jack  saw  the  repugnance  that  he  manifested,  and 
lie  menaced  the  two  ruffians  with  the  pistols. 

The  positions  were  reversed  now. 

Emroerson  had  to  be  protected  and  young  Jack  was  the 
protector. 

"Houston— vfflain?"  gasped  the  wounded  man.  "I 
haven't  now  five  minutes'  life  in  me.  Without  me  your  iron 
arm  is  cseless — worse  than  useless.  Remember  my  words, 
and  the  legend  on  the  ann." 

And  then,  as  though  the  effort  to  pronounce  these  words 
had  been  too  much  for  him,  he  dropped  back,  faint  and 

:vt:  his  :3.:r. 


off  now. 

you  safely  through  this,  my  boy,"  he 
gasped,  faintly,"  but  you  must  see  to  yourself  BOW;    lam 
done  for.     Houston,"  he  added. 
-Yes  ?" 

"Beware  of  the  steel  arm  !    It  has  been  my  death,  and 
may  be  yours.1* 

And  then,  with  these  woids  upon  his  lips,  he  sank  back. 
Robert  Emnerson  was  dead,  kffled  by  his  false  friend,  the 


At  first  the  two  ruffians  were  startled  at  the 
of  the  r^MMnpyJj^  but  they  twtut  too  much  accustomed  to 
look  upon  death  to  be  very  much  upset  by  this  murder. 

They  sprang  forward  to  grab  at  young  Jack,  but  the  boy 
was  not  to  be  taken  unawares. 

He  sent  out  bis  pistols  again,  and  brought  the  ruffians  to 
a  ;:.i--d. 


90  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 


CHAPTER  XV. 

DESPERATE  DEEDS — ADRIFT — HOW  THE  AMERICAN  DOCTOR 
COVERED  THE  RETREAT  OF  THE  REAR  GUARD. 

"  Go,"  said  Jack,  boldly,  "  or  I'll  bring  the  pair  of  you  down. 
I  never  miss." 

They  did  not  like  the  look  of  the  boy. 

"  If  you  don't  go,  I  shall  lose  patience,"  he  said  ;  "  I  shall 
bring  down  one,  for  sure,  and  the  other  will  be  dealt  with  by 
your  Chinese  friends  for  murdering  a  comrade." 

At  this,  Hunston  backed  up  the  ladder,  closely  followed 
by  Toro. 

Young  Jack  went  up  after  them,  and,  driving  the  two  ruffians 
before  him,  in  this  way  he  made  for  his  own  cabin. 

The  good  old  doctor  and  Harry  Girdwood  hastened  to 
meet  him. 

"  Oh,  Jack,  Jack,"  exclaimed  Harry,  where  have  you  been  ? " 

"  We  have  been  in  a  rare  state  of  mind,"  said  the  doctor. 
"  What  has  kept  you  ?  " 

"  More  than  there  is  time  to  explain,  doctor,"  answered 
young  Jack.  "  I  have  been  attacked.  One  of  them  defended 
me  against  Toro  and  Hunston,  and  one  has  been  murdered." 

"Which  one?     Surely  not  Spirillo  ?  " 

"  No  ;  where  is  Spirillo  ?  Have  you  seen  him  within  the 
last  half  hour  ?  " 

"No.     Why?" 

"  We  must  make  our  escape  to-night." 

"  Why  ?  " 

"  To-morrow  may  be  too  late." 

The  doctor  was  quite  flushed  at  this. 

"  Pray  explain  yourself,  Jack,"  he  said.  "  Why  must  it  be 
to-night  ? " 

"  The  murder  of  Robert  Emmerson  by  Hunston  will  prob- 
ably bring  about  an  investigation  of  the  whole  matter,  and 
any  moment  might  discover  all  our  plans,  our  boat  ready  for 
starting,  provisioned  and  armed,  and  then  our  lives  wouldn't 
be  worth  a  rap." 

He  then  gave  them  a  hurried  account  of  all  that  he  had 
gone  though  upon  that  eventful  night. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  91 

Young  Jack  was  right. 

To-night  or  never. 

The  American  doctor  got  together  his  medicines  and  every 
thing  which  had  been  left  as  his  portion  of  the  preparations. 

Not  a  thing  was  forgotten  by  him. 

Very  few  words  were  exchanged. 

They  had  made  a  lowering  apparatus  by  which  they  filled 
the  boat  with  the  various  articles  they  had  got  ready  for  the 
expedition,  and  as  this  was  dropped  through  the  window  with 
its  small  cargo,  the  doctor  ticked  off  its  contents  against  his 
written  list  of  necessaries  carefully  compiled. 

The  moment  approached  when  all  would  be  completed. 

"Jack." 

"Sir." 

"  Spirillo." 

"  Good." 

He  moved  towards  the  companion  ladder. 

"  No  rashness,  and  above  all,  don't  venture  on  to  the  deck, 
only  signal  Spirillo  and  come  back." 

"Good." 

"Harry." 

"Sir." 

"  Are  vou  ready  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Now  then,  take  the  rifles.  Where  is  the  small  keg  of 
powder  ?  " 

"  Here." 

"  And  the  bullet  mould  ?  " 

"  Already  in  the  boat" 

"  Good.     Now  then." 

At  this  moment  a  low,  soft  whistle  from  above  told  him 
that  Spirillo  was  there. 

Harry  Girdwood  answered  it. 

Then  he  squeezed  through  the  porthole  and  slipped  into 
the  boat. 

In  the  space  of  a  minute,  he  was  joined  by  young  Jack, 
who  reached  the  boat  in  the  same  fashion. 

Next  came  Spirillo,  who  glided  as  nimbly  as  only  a  monkey 
or  a  sailor  can. 

"  Now,  doctor,"  said  Harry  Girdwood,  "  make  haste." 

"  All  right. 

The  doctor  gave  a  look  round,  as  he  spoke,  and  then  he 
stepped  over  the  ship's  side  and  took  hold  of  the  rope. 


02  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SONi> 

"  Good-bye  to  the  pirate  ship, '  Flowery  Land ;'  farewell  to 
the  floating  shambles,"  muttered  the  American. 

"  Not  yet." 

A  dark  form  had  risen  from  the  planks,  it  seemed,  and 
confronted  the  doctor  at  this  moment. 

The  doctor  was  momentarily  taken  aback. 

Only  momentarily. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  he  demanded  coolly. 

"  You,"  was  the  reply.     "  You  first,  and  them  next." 

"  Oh  !  is  that  all  ? " 

The  man  in  response  placed  a  metal  whistle  in  his  mouth. 

But  he  did  not  blow. 

Before  he  could  get  out  a  note  the  old  American  gave  him 
a  sudden  drive,  which  sent  him  staggering  back,  and  then 
whipping  from  his  waistcoat  pocket  a  tiny  phial,  he  dashed  it 
upon  the  deck  close  by  the  man,  and  slid  down  the  rope  into 
the  boat. 

They  were  ready. 

Before  the  doctor  could  be  seated,  Spirillo  had  severed  the 
rope  with  one  vigorous  cut. 

The  "  Flowery  Land  "  held  on  her  course,  while  the  boat 
drifted  astern. 

"  Lower  your  oars,"  said  Spirillo,  eagerly,  "  and  pull  for 
your  lives." 

"  There's  no  hurry,"  said  the  American,  coolly. 

"  What  ? " 

"  They  have  got  plenty  to  occupy  them  at  present,"  said 
the  doctor  in  explanation. 

He  was  right. 

"  Look !  " 

They  stared  in  utter  amazement  then  in  the  direction  of 
the  "  Flowery  Land." 

The  whole  end  of  the  junk  from  whence  they  had  made 
their  escape  was  full  of  a  dense  white  vapour,  which  utterly 
obscured  every  object  on  board  ! 

"  What  is  that  ? "  demanded  Jack,  breathlessly. 

"  Only  my  way  of  covering  the  retreat  of  the  rear  guard," 
was  the  American's  quiet  rejoinder. 

"Will  it  blow  up?" 

"  No." 

"  But  will  it  set  the  ship  on  fire  ? " 

"No." 

"What  does  it  do, then?"  demanded  Spirillo. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  93 

"  Blind  the  pirates  for  a  time  onlv." 

-  Then,"  said  Harry  Girdwood,  "'let  us  pull  off  as  fast  as 
we  can — for  when  the  smoke  clears  away " 

-  We  shall  be  out  of  range  and  out  of  "sight  too." 
And  be  gave  a  quiet  chuckle  as  he  spoke. 

They  watched  the  huge  hull  of  the  pirate  junk  as  it  receded 
from  sight,  and  by  degrees  nothing  was  visible  but  the  dense 
cloud  of  white  vapour,  which  seemed  to  rise  slowly  to  the 
heavens  without  losing  its  density. 

**  Wfll  it  destroy  them  ?"  demanded  young  Jack  in  an  awe- 
stricken  whisper. 

"No." 

"What  will  be  the  effects  of  it?" 

«*  Nothing  very  dreadful.  They  will  doze  off  quiedy,  if  they 
get  a  sniff  of  it,  that's  alL" 

"Stifled?" 

"No:  merely  drugged." 

"  But  when  they  wake  up " 

'•  We  shall  be  far  out  of  harm's  way,  please  goodness — and 
now,7'  added  the  doctor,  **  lend  me  the  lantern,  Spiriilo.  and 
let  me  examine  the  chart,  for,  although  we  are  well  provi- 
sioned, I'd  rather  not  make  a  mistake." 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

Morning  dawned. 

The  "  flowery  Land  "  had  utterly  disappeared. 

They  swept  the  horizon  with  their  glasses,  but  not  a  sign, 
not  a  trace  of  the  pirate  junk  could  be  seen. 

And  when  this  was  known,  Spiriilo  eyed  the  doctor 
auspiciously. 

- 1  rather  think,  doctor,"  said  he, "  that  you  have  disposed 
of  themalL" 

"How?" 

••Sent  them  to  the  bottom." 

Young  Jack  and  Harry  Girdwood  were  silent. 

But  their  looks  showed  that  they  shared  Spirillo's  belief. 

"No,  my  friends,"  said  the  doctor.  •"They  are  safe  enough 
for  all  that  I  have  done  to  them." 

"And  now,  gentlemen  all,"  he  went  on  airily,  "now  for 
our  first  picnic  afloat;  to  breakfast." 

"  To  breakfast,"  shouted  the  boys  together. 

And  a  hearty  meal  they  made  of  it,for  they  ate  as  free 


94  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

ON    BOARD    THE  "  FRANZ    JOSEF  "    THE    TWO     EMILYS — WHAT 
LITTLE  EMILY  DISCOVERED  ON  THE  LOOKOUT. 

The  "  Franz  Josef  "  made  good  headway,  and  with  favour- 
ing winds,  scudded  along  in  a  way  which  slightly  upset  the 
plans  of  the  traitor  spy,  Biga-Eng-Ming-Ming,  otherwise 
Bigamini. 

On  board  the  "  Franz  Josef  "  were  Jack  Harkaway,  Emily, 
Harvey  and  his  wife,  and  the  friends  Jefferson  and  Magog 
Brand. 

A  goodly  party. 

Now  Emily's  health  had  been  fast  failing  her  during  the  last 
days  of  their  residence  on  Mandarin  Mole's  property,  and 
they  all  feared,  more  than  they  cared  to  acknowledge  to  each 
other,  upon  her  behalf. 

Judge  then  of  the  great  pleasure  when,  after  being  about 
forty-eight  hours  at  sea,  they  perceived  a  marked  improve- 
ment in  her. 

Her  cheek  grew  ruddy,  and  her  eye  regained  its  bright- 
ness, and  her  restoration  to  health  was  well-nigh  complete. 

The  change  appeared  to  be  wrought  by  magic. 

"  How  wonderfully  the  sea  suits  you,  dear,"  said  Hilda, 
repeatedly.  "  You  look  better  and  handsomer  than  ever 
now.  Your  dear  cheeks  are  like  damask,  and  your  eyes " 

Emily  interrupted  her  laughingly. 

"  If  you  were  a  man,  Jack  would  be  jealous,"  she  cried. 
"  You  are  so  full  of  flatten',  Hilda,  dear." 

"I  speak  literal  truth," 'protested  Hilda.  "I  don't  know 
how  far  a  flatterer  would  go." 

"  Nor  I,  if  that  is  not  flattery." 

"  The  sea  is  your  proper  element,  depend  on  it." 

Emily  looked  very  hard  into  her  face. 

"  Shall  I  tell  you  a  secret,  dear  ? " 

"  If  you  think  I  can  keep  one." 

"Well,  I  should  be  sorry  to  pledge  my  faith  to  that," 
returned  Mrs.  Harkaway,  with  a  smile  of  mischief,  "  but  I'll 
risk  it.  Do  you  know  what  is  the  chief  cause  of  my  im- 
proved health  ?" 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  95 

-Tneseaair.- 

-No." 

"The  change." 

"  Guess  again." 

u  F m  at  a  loss." 

"  Then  111  tell  you.    It  is  that  hope  is  bora  again.* 

"Hope?" 

-Yes." 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

44  Do  you  know,  dear,  what  made  me  so  ill?  Do  you  know 
what  crushed  m  j  spirit,  my  health,  and  almost  broke  my 
poor  heart?" 

Hilda  knew  well  enough,  but  she  sought  to  shirk  the  pain- 
ful! topic. 

~  You  know  well  enough ;  you  are  a  mother,  and  no  one 
knows  the  cause  so  well  as  you.  It  was  die  loss  of  my  dear 
boy,  my  darting  Jack." 

"Emily!" 

"You  know  it,"  said  Mrs.  Harkaway;  "none  know  it 
better  than  you,  Hilda.  I  felt  that  my  boy  was  in  danger  of  • 
immediate  death.  At  one  time  I  felt  sure  that  all  was  over, 
and  then  melancholy  settled  upon  me.  I  could  not  shake  it 
off.  I  know  that  it  would  have  ended  by  shaking  me  off 
instead,"  she  added,  with  a  faint  smile. 

"  Then,  dear,  the  inference  from  your  fresh  looks " 

Emily  nodded,  and  laughed  gleefully. 

"You  guess  it, I  can  see,7*  she  said,  with  an  air  of  con- 
viction. "  My  Jack  lives.  My  boy  is  saved." 

The  exalted  manner,  the  visibly  subdued  excitement  that 
seemed  to  foreshadow  hysterics, frightened  Hilda- 
She  began  to  fear  that  Emily's  mind  was  going. 

Hilda  sat  silent  before  her  loved  friend  and  companion 
for  awhile. 

Emily  regarded  her  with  a  singular  expression  on  her 
countenance  before  she  spoke. 

-  You  are  worrying  and  puzzling  your  brains  about  me, 
dear,"  she  said  presently.     *  You  can  not  understand  whether        | 
I  am  sane  or  wandering." 

"Emily!" 

«Wdl,I  must  say » 

**  "%  course,  that's  frank  of  you.  Well,  you  will  have  to 
«n  joy  a  good  laugh  at  me."  i 

"  Then  the  subject  will  have  to  be  a  merry  one."  * 


96  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  It  will,"  said  Emily :  "  know  then  that  I  have  been 
warned  in  a  dream." 

"  A  dream?" 

"Yes." 

A  look  of  disappointment  showed  upon  Hilda's  counte- 
nance. 

The  confident  manner  of  her  friend  had  almost  made  her 
hopeful. 

"  I  dreamt  that  he  was  saved,  that  he  had  been  in  deadly 
peril,  but  that  it  was  past,  and  that  we  should  soon  have  him 
with  us  again.  You  don't  believe  in  dreams  ?  " 

"  I  confess " 

"  No  need  to — I  know  you  don't,  nor  I  either,  ordinarily,  but 
this  was  an  exceptional  affair  altogether.  My  dream  was 
rather  a  vision,  and  I  am  sure  was  Heaven-sent.  It  was  shared 
too  by  the  two  persons  who  loved  Jack  best  in  the  world." 

"  Who  are  they  ?  " 

"  I  should  say — perhaps  his  father  and  mother." 

"  No,  by  the  two  Emilys." 

"What,  my  Emily?" 

"Yes." 

"  She  never  told  me." 

"  No,  but  she  did  me.  Here  was  tne  place  for  the  con- 
fidence she  had  to  give,  and  she  knew  it.  She  dreamt  that 
she  saw  Jack  in  great  peril,  and  that  at  the  most  critical 
moment  one  of  his  worst  enemies  had  his  heart  touched  by 
a  good  spirit,  and  became  his  defender. 

"  She  saw  Jack  in  a  boat,  gliding  .with  outstretched  arms 
toward  us.  Beside  him  sat  Harry  Girdwood,  and  with  them 
were  two  new-found  friends.  They  were  safe  ;  she  brought 
me  her  confidence,  and  when  we  compared  notes,  I  found  that 
our  dreams  had  been  identical  in  every  particular  and  detail." 
•  "  It  is  a  most  remarkable  coincidence." 

"  It  is  something  more  than  that,  dear :  it  is  a  warning — a 
Heaven-sent  vision,  I  feel  assured,  and  it  will  take  much  to 
destroy  that  conviction." 

"  Where  is  Emily  ? " 

"  I  left  her  with  her  inseparable  companion — the  telescope." 

"  Where  ?" 

"  Perched  up  beside  the  captain." 

"  On  the  watch  ?  " 

"Yes." 

Mrs.  Harkaway  laughed  heartily  at  this- 


ADVENTURES  IN  CBl+Vi'  9J 

ioz !  we  have  a  wager  on  between  *s." 
what?" 


'Who  shaD  discover   him  first.    She  metns  what  Jack 
to  steal  a  march  on  me.     Let  us  gp  to  her,  and 


Here  tiiey  were  just  in  time  to  share  in  a  grwtt  general  ex 


Tne  exchenient  prefacing  was  occasioned  by  tne  lowering 
of  a  boat  to  fish  op  something  floating  at  a  distance,  which 
fink  Emfly  had  spied  while  on  the  lookout. 

Jack  Harkawaj  was  in  the  boat,  for  he  seized  npt>n  the  least 
pretext  for  a  change,  and  moreover,  he  was  glad  to  gratify  the 
girl's  whim. 

And  as  they  rowed  towards  die  white  object  bobbing  up 
and  down  in  die  distance,  the  whole  of  the  ship's  crew  and 
passangers  mustered  on  thy  Aflr  to  speculate  upon  ri*^ 
•atwre  of  thrftVating  object. 

•  It's  a  gufl  she  has  seen  skimming  the  water,"  said  Magog 

returned  Jefferson,  "butifs  no  panic- 


The  boat  stfll  pulled  nearer  and  nearer  yet. 
And  now  they  were  up  with  it. 
One  of  the  sailors  bent  over  the  boat's  side,  and 
at  it,  and  as  he  pulled  it  in,  there  was  a  general 

-It's  only  a  floating  bottle,  after  afll* 


CHAPTER  XVH. 

FROM  THE  DEEP  —  THE  WAROTDG. 


A  bottle,  cocked 

Tarred,  and  painted  white  atop,  with  a  red  streak  round 
h,  and  with  a  white  collar  round  the  neck  of  the  bottle,  which 
had  evidently  been  placed  there  to  attract  die  attention  of  any 


What  can  k  be?"  said  the  coxswain  of  the  boat. 

7 


98  JA CK  HA RKA  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  It's  a  rum  un,  whatever  it  is,"  said  another. 

"  A  bottle  of  grog,"  suggested  one  of  the  men. 

Whereupon  the  rest  smacked  their  lips  in  eager  anticipa- 
tion. 

"  It's  a  queer  way  of  bottling  grog,"  said  a  tar. 

"  Supposing  a  fellow  prigged  it,  and  wanted  to  hide  it 
somewhere  away,"  suggested  one. 

"  A  blessed  odd  place  to  hide  it,"  interrupted  another  of 
the  men.  "  Let's  see  what's  inside." 

The  men  laughed,  and  agreed  to  this,  and  they  were  about 
to  knock  the  neck  of  the  bottle  off,  when  Harkaway  took 
the  bottle  unceremoniously  away  from  them. 

"  I'll  take  care  of  this,"  he  said,  "  and  we'll  see  what's  in- 
side it  when  we  get  back  on  deck." 

They  looked  black  at  this. 

But  Jack  Harkaway  was  one  of  that  sort  that  men  who 
know  what  discipline  means  do  not  feel  inclined  to  quarrel 
with. 

So  back  they  rowed. 

The  whole  company  on  board  the  "  Franz  Josef  "  were  wait- 
ing to  meet  them,  and  foremost  amongst  the  number  were 
the  two  Emilys  and  Mrs.  Harvey. 

"  What  is  it — what  is  it  ?  "  asked  a  score  of  eager  voices. 

"  Only  a  bottle." 

"  Oh  !  "  groaned  the  disappointed  excitement-seekers. 

Once  fairly  on  deck,  the  company  gathered  around  Jack 
Harkaway. 

When  the  neck  was  knocked  off,  it  was  found  that  there 
was  no  liquor  in  it. 

"  And  yet  I  can  hear  something  rumbling  about  in  it," 
said  Magog  Brand. 

"  I'll  wager  I  guess  what  it  is,"  said  Jefferson. 

"  I'll  wager  you  champagne  all  round  you  don't  guess," 
said  Harvey. 

"  Done." 

"  I'll  bet  that  I  guess  it,"  said  Harkwway,  suddenly  struck 
by  a  thought. 

Wagers  became  the  order  of  the  hour. 

Any  thing  for  a  little  excitement. 

While  their  sporting  proclivities  were  being  indulged  in 
by  the  gentlemen,  little  Emily  was  seen  busily  engaged  in  writ- 
ing on  a  leaf  of  her  pocketbook  which  she  proceded  to  tear 
out. 


ADVENTURES  AV  CHINA. 


99 


"  What  is  that,  Em  ?  "  demanded  her  father. 

"  My  guess,  papa,"  replied  his  daughter,  blushing  a  little. 

"What?" 

"  Why,  Emily,  you  are  never  going  to  bet ! "  said  Jack  Hark- 
away,  pretending  to  look  inexpressily  shocked. 

"  How  unladylike  ! "  said  Harvey. 

"  Dreadful ! "  said  Jack  Harkaway. 

•  •  No,  no,  uncle ;  I  only  want  to  guess,  like  all  of  you.  Here's 
my  guess — only,  mind,  it  is  not  to  be  opened  until  the  bottle 
has  been  broken." 

The  bottle  was  broken  and  a  folded  paper  was  discovered 
inside. 

But  the  noise  they  had  heard  had  been  caused  by  some 
small  shot  which  had  evidently  been  placed  in  the  bottle  as 
ballast. 

**  A  message  from  the  sea." 

"  The  last  words  of  some  poor  shipwrecked  people,"  sug- 
gested Magog  Brand. 

"  Likely  enough." 

Little  Emily  stretched  forward  eagerly,  and  to  the  surprise 
of  all  snatched  up  the  paper. 

Then  before  they  could  discern  her  intention,  she  read 
it  hurriedly  through,  and  fell  fainting  on  the  deck. 

"  Look  to  her ! "  cried  Harkaway,  excitedly. 

He  picked  up  the  paper,  and  while  little  Emily  was  carried 
away  by  her  father,  he  read  it  aloud  to  the  amazed  by- 
standers. 

"  This  is  to  warn  the  *  Franz  Josef '  that  the  notorious 
Chinese  pirate  junk,  the  '  Flowery  Land,*  is  cruising  about  in 
these  waters  with  the  avowed  object  of  capturing  it.  Their 
plains  are  all  well  laid,  and  they  have  precise  information 
abou  the  *  Franz  Josef,'  sent  them  by  the  agent  and  spy  of 
the  pirates,  who  is  called  Big-Eng-Ming-Ming.  Mr.  Harka- 
way and  friends  of  his  are  known  to  be  on  board 
the  '  Franz  Josef,'  so  that  the  pirates  look  forward  to  the 
certainty  of  making  a  very  rich  prize.  This  warning 
is  sent  forth  by  Jack  Harkaway  the  younger  and  Harry 
Girdwood,  both  prisoners  on  board  the  'Flowery  Land,' 
but  who  fondly  hope  that  their  captivity  draws  to  a 
close.  Any  body  finding  this  is  earnestly  requested  to  for- 
ward it  to  Mr.  Harkaway,  who  will  handsomely  reward  the 
finder." 

Harkaway  and  his  friend  Harvey  were  silent 


1 00  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND 

An  awe-stricken  si'ence  had  fallen  upon  them  all. 
****** 

"Well,  Hilda,"  said  Mrs.  Harkarkay,  "what  have  you  to 
say  now  to  my  vision  ?  ' 

.  "  Say — nothing,"  responded  Hilda  ;  "  I  am  all  amazement. 
Give  me  the  note  that  my  Emily  wrote." 

Harkaway  had  forgotten  this  for  the  moment. 

He  now  opened  it,  and  read  there  little  Emily's  guess  at 
what  the  bottle  would  be  found  to  contain. 

It  was  simply  these  word*— 

*'  A  message  from  Jack." 

"  Wonder  upon  wonder,'  ejaculated  Harkaway,  handing 
It  to  Hilda. 

The  latter  actually  trembled  when  she  read  the  words.  It 
looked  like  witchcraft. 

"  I  shall  look  upon  you  as  9  sorceress  in  future,  dear,"  she 
said,  "  and  my  Emily  too." 

"  '  Pon  my  ife  !  "  exclaimed  Jefferson,  "  that's  tall  guess- 
ing. Why,  she  was  the  only  on*  who  shot  the  mark." 

"  The  only  one.  " 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Harkaway  seriously,  as  he  looked 
about  him  ;  "  there  is  something  more  in  this  than  mere 
guessing.  The  hand  of  Providence  is  clearly  indicated 
here.  Let  us  profit  by  the  warning  without  delay." 

"  At  once." 

"  At  once ! "  echoed  every  voice  about  him. 

"  Let  us  have  the  captain  here,  too,  end  have  a  general  con- 
ference." 

This  was  done. 

The  captain  came  up,  and  the  mat*er  was  gone  into  at 
length. 

"  Let  us  take  opinions  as  we  go  on,"  said  Harvey. 

"  By  all  means,"  said  Jefferson,  "  anc*  Suppose  we  begin 
with  the  captain." 

"  Good." 

"Now,  sir." 

The  captain  looked  about  him  rather  nervously  before 
giving  his  answer. 

"  I  think,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  that  you  will  guess  my 
answer.  There  can  not  be  two  opinions,  I  presume,  on  the 
matter.  We  must  put  back,  without  losing  any  time." 

"But  what  about  the  writer  of  this  letter?  '  exclaimed 
Jack  Harkaway ;  "  what  about  my  boy,  eh  ?  SUwUI  wa  go 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  ior 

_«ck  without  making  an  effort  in  behalf  of  the  brave  lads 
that  warn  us  of  our  peril  ?  " 

"  What  good  could  we  do  in  opposing  such  a  vessel  as  the 
*  Flowery  Land  ? ' "  said  the  captain. 

"We  could  at  least  try,"  said  Harkaway. 

"Yes,"  said  the  captain,  "and  swell  the  list  of  their 
victims,  that's  all,  and  perhaps  cause  your  boy  to  be  murdered 
under  our  very  eyes ;  no,  Mr.  Harkaway,  that  would  be  idle 
folly.  The  only  thing  is  to  get  back  and  seek  the  assistance  of 
the  British  admiral  Then  we  shall  be  able  to  rescue  the 
lads,  and  pay  out  these  villanous  sharks  into  the  bargain. 
We  shall  be  doing  a  wonderful  service  to  the  world  at  large 
by  these  means." 

Harkaway  made  no  immediate  answer,  but  he  looked  as  if 
he  did  not  relish  the  idea  of  going  back. 

tt  Well,  gentlemen,"  said  the  captain,  "what  do  you  all  say  ?  '* 

"  I  for  one  think  you  are  right,"  said  Jefferson. 

"There  can  be  no  doubt  of  it,"  added  the  dwarf;  "a 
moment's  reflection  will  suffice  to  convince  you  of  that." 

"  I  must  say  I  think  so,  too,"  said  Harvey ;  "  much  as  I 
am  tempted,  Jack,  to  say  as  you  have  said,  I  can't  help  see- 
ing that  it  would  be  the  height  of  folly  to  do  it  We  must 
get  a  ship  that  can  cope  with  the  pirates." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right.  I  have  only  one  stipulation  to 
make." 

"  Name  it." 

"  That  you  get  back  with  all  dispatch,  lose  not  a  day,  not 
an  hour — nay,  not  a  minute.  My  boy's  life  may  actually  de- 
pend upon  an  hour  one  way  or  the  other." 

They  little  thought  what  had  already  taken  place,  how 
Mandarin  Mole  had  detected  the  villanous  little  spyBigamini. 

Still  less  did  they  anticipate  that  poor  Isaac  Mole  had 
lost  his  other  leg,  and  that,  for  the  future,  he  would  have  to 
stump  through  the  world  on  a  pair  of  timber  toes. 


1 02  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  RAFT  AND  ITS  DEAD— AN  EVIL  OMEN. 

YOUNG  Jack's  troubles  were  not  over. 

The  pirate  junk  was  out  of  sight. 

Their  provisions  held  out ;  but  they  had  one  severe  diffi- 
culty to  encounter. 

Bad  weather. 

They  were  driven  before  the  wind  at  a  desperate  rate  for 
hours. 

But  they  lived  it  down. 

On  the  third  day  they  came  in  sight  of  a  sail. 

This  raised  their  hopes. 

They  hung  out  flags,  and  made  every  possible  signal  of 
distress. 

But  in  vain. 

They  had  the  mortification  of  seeing  the  ship  keep  on  her 
course  without  heeding  them. 

This  can  be  easily  understood. 

Their  tiny  craft  was  invisible  to  the  big  ship,  which  they 
saw  with  comparative  distinctness. 

Had  the  people  on  the  passing  ship  been  on  the  lookout  for 
them,  a  close  scrutiny  through  a  telescope  might  have  revealed 
their  mere  speck  of  a  boat,  dancing  about  upon  the  waves. 

But  they  were  not. 

And  so  they  passed  on  never  dreaming  that  four  fellow- 
creatures  were  so  near,  comparatively,  and  in  imminent  peril. 

"We  shall  never  be  seen,"  said  young  Jack,  despondingly, 
"  unless  we  are  near  enough  to  get  run  down." 

The  doctor  was  more  philosophic,  however. 

He  had  one  word  of  consolation  for  every  grievance. 

"Wait." 

"  That's  all  very  well,"  said  young  Jack,  impatiently,  "  but 
it  is  more  easy  to  preach  patience  than  exercise  it.  Our 
only  chance  is  to  be  picked  up  by  a  passing  vessel." 

"  True." 

"  We  may  go  weeks  again  and  not  meet  another." 

"  True  again." 

"Then  can  you  wonder  at  my  impatience  ?" 

The  doctor  smiled. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  103 

"  My  dear  boy,"  said  he,  "  when  you  get  my  age,  you  will 
take  matters  more  quietly." 

Another  day  passed. 

Towards  sundown  they  fell  in  with  an  adventure.  Spirillo 
was  engaged  in  setting  a  sail  that  he  had  contrived  when  he 
spied  something  floating  out  to  leeward. 

"  What  is  it  ? " 

"  It  looks  like  a  piece  of  a  wreck." 

"  Anybody  on  it  ?  " 

«*  No.  Yet  stay — I  think  I  see  someone — give  me  the  glass." 

He  looked  long  and  earnestly. 

"  I  think  I  can  see  a  man  making  signals." 

"  Look." 

"  There,  in  that  direction." 

After  a  few  moments,  young  Jack  distinguished  something 
very  clearly. 

"  I  am  positive  that  I  see  a  man  on  the  raft,"  said  he, 
"  but  he  appears  to  be  bowing  to  us." 

"  Or  to  someone  else,"  added  Spirillo. 

*'  Let  us  pull  toward  it,"  cried  Jack. 

This  was  done. 

The  day  was  declining,  and  in  the  fading  light  it  had  ap- 
peared farther  off  than  it  was  in  reality,  for  in  less  than 
twenty  minutes  they  were  close  enough  to  see  what  it  was. 

And  a  ghastly  spectacle  it  proved  to  be. 

A  roughly-made  raft,  to  which  were  lashed  two  half-naked 
forms. 

One  was  fastened  to  the  side  of  the  raft,  and  his  lashings 
had  slipped  with  the  motion  of  the  waves,  and  his  dead 
bod)',  attached  only  by  a  leg,  while  the  rest  of  the  body  was 
submerged,  was  towed  along. 

The  other  form  was  that  of  a  tall  gaunt  man  with  sunken 
cheeks,  hollow  eyes,  and  a  long  grizzled  beard,  who  sat 
huddled  up  in  the  centre  of  the  raft  bowing  gravely  to  some- 
thing in  front  of  him. 

They  shouted  to  him  as  they  approached,  but  he  did  not 
hear  them  apparently,  for  he  went  on  bowing  with  the  same 
gravity. 

"  Ship  ahoy !  "  shouted  Spirillo. 

"  Hillo — ho  ' "  responded  the  man  on  the  raft,  in  sepulchra/ 
tones,  "  bring  the  lights  and  pipe  all  hands  for  a  dance." 

They  looked  at  each  other  gravely. 

**  An  Englishman,"  said  young  Jack. 


1 04  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  Or  an  American,"  added  the  doctor. 

"  Mad  ? " 

The  doctor  nodded. 

"  What  shall  we  do  ?  " 

"  Give  him  something  to  eat." 

Harry  Girdwood  tossed  him  a  piece  of  biscuit,  and  so  true 
was  his  aim,  that  it  fell  at  the  man's  feet. 

He  started,  snatched  it  up,  and  devoured  it  eagerly. 

And  then,  before  he  had  swallowed  the  last  morsel  of  it, 
he  fell  heavily  forward  on  his  face. 

They  pulled  alongside,  and  the  American  doctor  boarded 
the  raft. 

He  knelt  down  beside  the  man,  and  found  him  utterly 
insensible. 

"  The  shock  has  been  too  much  for  him  in  his  weak  state," 
he  said. 

He  turned  the  man  over  and  felt  his  body  vainly  for  a 
pulse. 

Then  he  looked  up  at  his  companions  in  the  boat. 

"  Well,  doctor,  how  is  he  ? "  asked  young  Jack  anxiously. 

"  We  came  across  him  just  in  time  to  see  him  die." 

"  Die  1 " 

"  Yes,  it  is  all  over." 

****** 

Hunger  and  exposure  had  done  their  work  thoroughly. 

They  looked  about  the  raft  and  examined  the  bodies  for 
any  indication  of  their  names  or  the  name  of  the  ship  from 
which  they  had  come  to  this  piteous  end. 

But  there  was  nothing  to  give  them  the  least  information. 

The  doctor  got  back  to  the  boat  and  they  pulled  away 
slowly  and  sadly. 

"  See,  see,"  exclaimed  Harry  Girdwood,  a  moment  after. 

"  What  now  ?  " 

"  The  raft  has  broken  up." 

And  so  it  had  strangely  enough,  just  after  the  doctor  had 
left  it,  and  the  two  grim  occupants  of  the  raft  slipped  over 
and  rolled  to  their  last  resting-place,  the  bed  of  the  ocean. 

"  How  horrible,"  said  Harry  Girdwood,  with  a  shudder. 
"  I  hope  that  that  may  not  be  our  fate  after  all  our  severe 
struggles." 

"  Amen,"  responded  the  doctor  solemnly. 

The  twilight  deepened  and  the  sun  set,  tinging  the  whole 
span  of  the  western  horizon  with  a  rich  golden  hue. 


ADVENTURES  IW  COHfA.  105 

And  as  they  stained  their  eyes  to  get  the  last  glimpse  of 
the  fragments  of  Ac  wrecked  raft,  it  looked  MoodWd'inthe 


And  as  k  faded  away  from  view,  the  son  sank  bdow  the 
.  :-..::- 

Darkness  was  on  tbe  face  of  the  waters. 
Then  their  hearts  grew  heavy,  and  they  drifted  away  in  a 


\ndastheyfeH  asleep,  they  all  asked 


Shall  we  be  picked  «p  by  a  passing  ship  ?  - 
And  filled  with  dire  forebodings,  they  fek  hope  abandon 


The  solemnity  of  the  position 


spite  of  themselves,  they  looked  upon  that  fatal  raft  as 
"TheuVfated  Englishman  on  the  rafr  had  just  come  in  sight 

f*f -+nA  Ki<4     jujJw^U-,     tKmA     itmm     1 r*f~m\A     .  ,   _1*_.      jji  • 

o»  VMittnai  ana  nao.  prooaoiy  onea  ere  ne  crmiii  leanse  me 

Were  they,  too,  drained  to  reach  help  when  it  would  be 
too  late? 
They  feared  so. 
And  this  k  was  that  caused  them  to  grow  heart-sick. 

Heavenly  sleep,  the  panacea  for  all  onr  ills. 

It  was  Spirilto's  watch  that  n%ht,  and  a  weary  v%fl  it  was 


said  the  Malay  to 
himself,  "I  ought  to  hare  known  when  I  was  weflon^and 
stayed  on  BOB*  the « flowery  Land.'  - 


CHAPTER  XDL 

SAVED— FATHER  A3CD  SOX — HIGH  JT5TKS  OX 
"CTtASEZ  JOSEF.™ 

« SHIP  ahoy!" 

Harry  Gkdwood  awoke  with  a  start. 

-Where  away?" 

-Yonder." 


1 06  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SO  ATS 

He  picked  up  his  glass,  and  looked  e^^rly  out. 

Yes,  sure  enough  there  was  a  ship,  .11^  at  no  very  great 
distance  either. 

"  Shall  we  wake  them  up  ? " 

"  No  ;  let  us  signal  her  first." 

"  You  run  up  a  flag,"  said  Harry  Girdwood,  "  while  I  fire 
off  the  rifle." 

The  rifle  lay  ready  loaded  to  hand,  so  he  lifted  it,  and 
blazed  away  into  the  sky. 

At  that  young  Jack  and  the  doctor  awoke  with  a  start. 

"  Hullo  !  "  cried  the  former,  "  what's  the  matter  ?  " 

"  Ship  ahoy  !  " 

"  So  there  is,  and  not  far  off.  Dear  me !  and  we  were 
getting  down  in  the  mouth,  too." 

"  Hurrah  !  "  shouted  young  Jack,  joyfully,  "  we  are  saved." 

"  I  hope  so ;  don't  be  too  sanguine,  lest  our  disappointment 
be  proportionate." 

"  Wisely  spoken,  doctor,"  said  Spirillo. 

"  It  can't  be  the  '  Flowery  Land  '  again." 

Spirillo  had  taken  a  long,  steady  look  through  his  glass  by 
now,  and  he  soon  put  them  right  upon  this  point. 

"  It's  no  more  like  the  '  Flowery  Land  '  than  it  is  like  the 
raft  we  saw  yesterday.  Fire  the  rifle  again." 

In  their  eagerness,  three  of  them  blazed  away  now ;  and 
by  the  time  that  the  echo  of  their  own  shouts  died  away, 
they  saw  a  flash  of  light  on  board  the  ship,  a  puff  of  smoke, 
and  then  came  the  deep  boom  of  the  answering  gun. 

"  They  see  us  !  " 

"  They  signal  us  !  " 

"  Hurrah  !  " 

They  lowered  their  oars,  and  pulled  away  for  the  ship 
with  a  hearty  goodwill. 

And  presently  they  were  so  near  that  they  could  see  them 
run  their  colours  up  to  the  mast-head. 

"  The  Union  Jack  ! "  shouted  Harry  Girdwood. 

"  Let's  give  it  three  cheers." 

"  Hip,  hip,  hip,  hoorah  !  hip,  hip  !  Why,  Spirillo,  man 
-ilive,  you  don't  seem  pleased." 

"  I — oh,  yes." 

"  Why,  what  a  half-hearted  way  of  showing  your  pleasure 
then." 

"  The  English  are  notoriously  hard  on  all  pirates,"  said 
Spirillo  coldly ;  "  what  guarantee  have  I  that  I  am  safe  ? " 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  107 

"  You  ! "  exclaimed  young  Jack,  "  why,  you're  with  us, 
aren't  you  ?  Well,  that  shows  you  are  no  pirate.  Why, 
Spirillo.  my  good  friend,  the  fact  of  your  being  with  us  would 
make  you  safe  if  you  were  known,  which  you  are  not.  We 
shall  give  no  explanation  beyond  the  fact  that  we  have  es- 
caped from  the  'Flowery  Land,'  you  with  us." 

"  All  right." 

"  Give  me  your  hand." 

"  With  all  my  heart,"  said  Spirillo,  reassured. 

"  See,  see  ;  they  are  lowering  a  boat" 

This  was  true. 

The  ship  had  now  lowered  a  boat,  and  it  was  speedily 
manned  and  pulling  towards  them. 

They  pulled  sharply  to  meet  them,  and  in  the  space  of  a 
few  minutes  the  two  boats  were  alongside  of  each  other. 

"  What  cheer,  my  mates  ?  "  cried  one  of  the  boat's  crew ; 
"  lost  your  bearings  and  drifted  away  ?  " 

"  That's  it." 

"  Is  yours  a  trading  ship,  my  friend  ?  "  asked  the  doctor. 

"Yes,  your  honour,  a  tea  ship,"  replied  one  of  the  sailors, 
heartily. 

"  A  tea  ship  ?  '• 

"Yes." 

"  Whither  bound  ? "  demanded  young  Jack  eagerly. 

"Back  to  Chancy?" 

"  What  is  the  name  of  your  ship,  my  man  ?  " 

"The  '  Franz  Josef.' " 

"  The  what  ? "  almost  shrieked  young  Jack. 

The  man  confirmed  his  speech  with  a  sort  of  mild  oath, 
but  his  speech  was  drowned  by  the  great  din  of  voices  from 
the  ship  itself. 

And  above  them  all  was  heard  a  clear,  ringing,  manly  voice 
shouting  out — 
"  Jack,  Jack,  my  own  boy  Jack.     Now  Heaven  be  thanked ' " 

Jack  gave  a  yelL     It  was  his  father  ! 

They  scrambled  up  the  ship's  side  goodness  knows  how. 

All  we  know  is,  that  young  Jack  was  foremost,  and  that 
in  less  time  than  it  takes  to  write  it,  he  was  being  strained  to 
his  father's  heart,  and  their  eyes  were  dim  with  tears  of  joy. 

The  two  Emilys  came  running  along  the  deck,  and  Hilda 
scudding  after  them,  a  good  third  in  a  hotly-contested  race. 

And  then  there  was  more  hugging  and  kissing,  and  every 
body  laughed  and  cried  all  at  once. 


1 08  JA  CK  HA RKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

And  as  for  little  Emily,  her  joy  was  so  great  that  she  quite 
forgot  her  lady-like  reserve  which  she  was  now  just  begin- 
ning to  think  it  proper  to  assume,  and  she  hugged  her  young 
sweetheart  before  everybody  with  greater  warmth  than  all 
the  rest. 

"  Come,  come,  I  say,  Miss  Emily,"  said  Mr.  Jefferson, 
winking  at  Harvey,  "  I  think  you  ought  to  serve  us  alike  all 
round." 

Little  Emily  blushed  purple  and  retreated  behind  her 
mamma. 

"  Now,  Jack,"  said  the  elder  Harkaway,  "  tell  me  who  your 
friends  are — or  rather  companions." 

"  Friends,  father,  friends,"  corrected  young  Jack. 

"  Well,  friends." 

"  Doctor  Stanley — our  good  friend — he  saved  Harry's  life, 
and  mine,  too,  for  the  matter  of  that,  as  much  by  his  good 
counsels  as  anything  else." 

The  speaker's  father  held  out  his  hand  to  the  American 
doctor. 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  "  you  have  made  yourself  our  friend  for 
life — and  me  your  eternal  debtor.  I  hope  that  I  may  be  in 
a  position  to  requite  your  goodness." 

"  Mr.  Harkaway,"  returned  the  doctor,  smiling,  "  our  dear 
young  Jack  has  overrated  my  services  very  greatly.  He  must 
have  kissed  the  blarney  stone.  I  am  in  his  debt,  on  the 
contrary — in  his  and  that  of  our  young  friend  and  fellow 
adventurer,  Harry  Girdwood." 

"  Doctor ! " 

"  It  is  so,"  affirmed  the  American.  "To  their  energy  and 
indomitable  perseverance  I  owe  my  presence  here — my  es- 
cape from  that  floating  slaughter  house  in  which  I  was  so 
long  a  prisoner." 

"  The  doctor  is  too  kind,"  said  Harry  Girdwood,  "  for 
without  has  cool  head  and  his  sage  advice  we  should  have 
been  ruined  and  undone  twenty  times." 

"  And  we  must  not  forget  our  friend  Spirillo." 

"  Glad  to  know  you,  friend  Spirillo,"  said  Harkaway, 
grasping  his  hand. 

The  Malay  pirate  was  a  bit  abashed  at  this  public  recogni- 
tion of  his  services. 

"  The  lads  did  all,"  he  said.  "  They  planned  it  all.  I  owe 
them  my  escape.  They  owe  me  nothing." 

"  But  without  Spirillo  we  should  never  have  got  away." 


ADVEA'TURES  IN  CHIXA. 


109 


"Troe,"  said  Doctor  Stanley.     "  It  was  he  who  provided 

»l«    TTlf*^ffK_** 

"lam  bowed  down  with  tbe  weight  of  the  obligations  I 
am  under,  my  good  friends,  to  you,"  said  Jack  Harkaway, 
senior.  "May  the  friendship  thus  began  last  till  we  have 
done  with  life." 

~  Hurrah  !  "  shonted  an  enthusiastic  tar.  The  cry  was 
caught  up  by  the  whole  of  the  assembled  crew.  And  a  joyous 
day  it  was  on  board  the  "Franz  Josef.™ 

In  the  midst  of  the  excitement,  the  hand-shakings,  kissing 
and  hogging,  and  the  questioning  that  was  going  on  all 
round,  young  Jack  did  not  particularly  observe  the  jolty  old 
salt  who  led  the  cheering. 

His  father  led  the  sailor  in  question  forward, 

-  An  old  friend  of  yours,  my  dear  boy,"  he  said. 

The  old  sailor  scraped  a  bow  and  pnlkd  his  forelock. 

"  Gbd  to  see  your  honour  back  again  among  us,"  he  said. 

"What!"  cried  young  Jack,  "my  old  friend  Ben  Haw- 
ser?  Precious  glad  to  see  yon,  Ben.  Tip  us  your  fin." 

They  shook  hands  with  such  evident  enjoyment,  that  it 
made  the  whole  of  the  bystanders  feel  a  sensation  of 
ly  to  look  on. 


I"  cried  Ben,  "it  makes  my  smeDer  tingle  and 

look  at 
Mtof 

.  nhanflybc 

the  evidence  of  my  own  blessed  topfights ;  let's  fed  your 


the  water  pump  into  my  lee-scuppers  with  joy  to  look  atyou 
•pin,  Master  Jack,  and  to  think  yon  are  safe  out  of  them 
sharks'  dutches.  Blow  my  pigtaU  if  I  can  hardly  believe 


flesh  again. 

And  they  shook  hands  with  greater  warmth  titan  before. 

"Yon  ought  to  hare  been  in  that  fight  with  the  pirate, 
said  young  Jack. 

'Well,  I  dunno,"  replied  old  Ben.     "With  such  a 


as  it  were  according  to  all  accounts,  the  odds  was  about  the 
Lord  High  Admiral  to  a  powder  monkey  agin  you." 

"Right." 

"But  I  should  vastly  like  to  have  about  three  of  them 
pirates  here  just  now— only  three,  and  with  nothing  but  a 
bo'sen  s  jAll«kn  m  my  paw— damme  *  Id  make  a«»<iil  uncmt 
of  'em  and  look  on  it  as  dinner,  in  a  manner  of  speaking! " 

The  first  mate  summoned  all  the  crew,  and  Jack  Haikaway, 
senior  addressed  them  from  the  top  of  a  band. 

"  I  want  to  hare  some  small  recognition  of  my  boy's  re- 
turn my  men,"  be  said,  "and  so  I  hare  asked  the  skipper's 


HO  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

permission  to  treat  you  to  a  double  allowance  of  grog  all 
round." 

"  Hoorah ! " 

"  Three  cheers ! "  cried  Ben  Hawser.  "  Take  the  time 
from  me,  and  give  it  mouth — one,  two,  three — hip,  hip, 
hoorah !  " 

A  deafening  cheer  burst  from  the  crew. 

"  I  would  also  suggest,"  said  Harkaway,  "  that  we  should 
have  a  dance." 

"  Bravo ! " 

"  A  dance  !  a  dance  !  " 

"  But  the  serious  question  of  the  hour  is,  have  we  got  a 
fiddler  on  board  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  so,"  returned  Dan,  an  old  sailor,  with  a 
look  of  something  approaching  scorn  at  the  question 
arising.  "  Why,  what  do  you  call  Ben  Hawser  ? '' 

"  Can  Ben  play  ?  "  said  Harkaway,  in  surprise. 

"  Ben  play  ! "  echoed  Dan.  "  Only  like  a  gilded  angel, 
that's  all.  Can't  he,  mates  ? " 

"  Aye,  aye." 

"Well,  then,"  said  Harvey,  "here's  the  programme  right 
off." 

"  First  the  grog,"  suggested  Mr.  Jefferson. 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  clear  the  deck  for  a  dance, "  added  Magog  Brand, 

"Aye,  aye." 

"  Call  the  grog." 

"  Here  it  comes." 

"  And  now,"  said  Jack  Harkaway  the  elder,  "  as  soon  as 
Ben  Hawser  tunes  up,  I'll  try  if  I  can  get  my  legs  lissome 
enough  to  lead  off  the  hornpipe." 

This  proposition  was  greeted  with  deafening  cheers. 

Harkaway  led  off  the  dance  with  a  will,  and  every  step 
that  is  known  in  association  with  the  hornpipe  he  could  do 
— aye,  and  do  it  to  perfection  too. 

The  tars  were  delighted. 

And  when  Jack  senior  was  tired,  Jack  junior  had  to  start 
off,  and  he  showed  himself  scarcely  less  agile  than  his 
father. 

Then  followed  Harvey,  and  Magog  Brand  came  next  with 
Punch's  break-down,  which  made  the  crew  yell  with  gratifi- 
cation. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  II» 

It  was  a  grand  festival  for  the  crew. 

And  the  reputation  of  the  Harkaways— father  and  son — 
was  from  that  day  wondrously  enhanced  for  the  sailors. 

They  had  looked  upon  them  with  considerable  respect 
and  admiration  before ;  they  now  regarded  them  as  men  of 

the  most  exalted  genius. 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

While  the  festivities  proceeded,  Mr.  Jefferson  and  Doctor 
Stanley  stood  aloof  chatting  about  the  details  of  the  escape. 

44  It  is  a  remarkable  thing,"  said  the  doctor,  "  how  apt  we 
are  to  believe  in  what  we  most  desire." 

"  We  are." 

"  Do  you  know  that  no  sooner  did  we  get  sight  of  a  sail 
than  young  Jack  set  it  down  for  the  '  Franz  Josef  ?  ' " 

u  Indeed.  Well,  we  came  across  a  bottle  containing  your 
message." 

"  You  did  ?  "  cried  the  doctor. 

"  Yes." 

"  Now  Heaven  be  thanked,"  exclaimed  the  other  fervently. 
"  Providence  was  with  us." 

"  It  was  indeed,"  said  Mr.  Jefferson  seriously  :  "  it  is  little 
short  of  marvellous  that  we  should  have  picked  up  one  of 

those  bottles  after  all." 

****** 

The  crew  of  the  "  Franz  Josef  "  did  not  forget  that  festi- 
val for  many  a  long  day. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

MR  MOLE  DETERMINES  TO  ROUT  OUT  THE  BRIGANDS. 

THE  "  Franz  Josef  "  was  back  again. 

As  soon  as  she  was  in  port,  they  made  their  way  to  the 
British  consul's  house,  and  made  an  official  report  concern- 
ing the  notorious  pirate  ship,  the  "  Flowery  Land." 

The  consequence  was  that  an  expedition  was  got  up  to  go 
in  pursuit 

Once  their  business  settled  there,  they  made  their  way  up 
the  country  to  Mr.  Mole's  property. 

Judge  then  of  their  surprise  and  dismay  when  they  dis» 
covered  the  calamity  which  had  befallen  the  old  tutor. 


1 12  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Poor  Isaac  Mole — ever  seeking  for  glory,  even  in  the  midst 
of  pain  ! 

He  was  once  more  nursed  by  his  faithful  black  partner, 
with  all  her  old  tenderness  and  affection,  and  thanks  to  a  good 
constitution,  no  less  ihan  her  unremitting  attention,  he  was 
comparatively  soon  convalescent. 

And  so  it  fell  out  that  when  they  arrived,  he  was  walking 
about  upon  two  wooden  legs. 

"  Welcome  all,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  with  genuine  joy. 
"  My  troubles  are  over  now  that  I  see  you  all  here  again  ; 
and  believe  me,  I  would  have  two  more  wooden  legs,  and  go 
through  even  more  suffering  yet  if  it  were  necessary  for  the 
delight  of  having  my  own  boy  safe  back  with  us — bless  him  !  " 

But  the  troubles  and  ugly  adventures  which  they  had  gone 
through  had  this  notable  effect  upon  them. 

They  were  tired  of  China. 

"  We  will  leave  the  Celestials  to  their  own  devices,"  said 
Harkaway,  "  as  soon  as  Mr.  Mole  is  fit  to  undertake  the 
fatigues  of  a  sea  voyage." 

Mr.  Mole  was  not  in  a  hurry  to  be  gone. 

Firstly,  he  could  not  be  moved  yet. 

Secondly,  he  had  a  pet  fancy  in  his  head  for  routing  out 
the  gang  with  which  Bigamini  was  in  league. 

Of  the  existence  of  such  a  gang  they  had  ample  proofs 
that  Nabley  and  Daniel  Pike  had  routed  up. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

MOLE  BAGS    A  BURGLAR — WHAT  A    NIGHT  HE    HAS  OF  IT — DIS- 
GRACEFUL ROBBERY  OF  THE  WOODEN  LEG. 

ISAAC  MOLE  stumped  his  way  through  life  cheerfully 
enough  on  his  pair  of  timber  toes. 

The  loss  of  his  only  remaining  leg  did  not  affect  his  spirits 
much. 

The  only  visible  effect  it  had  upon  him  was  to  cause  him 
to  grow  spiteful  at  times. 

And  then  he  would  vow  vengeance  upon  Bigamini. 

"  I'm  not  a  vicious  man,"  he  would  often  say,  "but  that 
^wretch  has  condemned  me  to  such  a  life  of  torment  with 


AD  VENTURES  IN  CHINA.  113 

my  stilts,  that  if  I  wait  till  I'm  a  hundred,  I'll  have  my 
vengeance  upon  him." 

And  when  he  had  made  this  remark  in  the  presence  of 
either  Nabley  or  Daniel  Pike,  the  detectives  would  endeav- 
our to  put  him  off  his  favourite  topic  by  assuring  him  that 
Bigamini  was  dead. 

"  I  am  sure  that  that  last  shot  did  for  him,"  said  Pike, 
"  positive.  The  others  carried  him  away  in  order  that  noth- 
ing might  be  discovered  to  compromise  them." 

"  How  compromise  them  ?  "  Mr.  Mole  would  ask. 

"  By  letting  their  names  be  known." 

This  puzzled  Mr.  Mole  until  it  was  explained. 

The  two  detectives,  true  to  their  old  instincts,  had  ferreted 
out  a  number  of  particulars  concerning  Bigamini  and  his 
exploits. 

Not  only  was  that  ruffian  the  spy  of  the  pirates,  but  he 
was  also  connected  with  a  villanous  gang  of  thieves,  who 
carried  on  their  exploits  in  an  underhand  way,  with  a  secret 
organisation  that  completely  puzzled  the  native  authorities. 

They  had  their  agents  and  spies  everywhere,  and  indeed 
it  was  very  soon  evident  that  they  must  have  them  upon  Mr. 
Mole's  plantation. 

The  continual  robberies  which  occurred  soon  convinced 
the  detectives  of  this. 

Nabley  communicated  his  suspicions  to  Isaac  Mole,  and 
the  latter  was  on  the  watch  night  and  day  from  that  moment. 

By  degrees,  however,  he  got  the  better  of  this  nervous 
feeling,  and  Mrs.  Mole  began  to  get  a  fair  night's  rest. 

One  night,  however,  just  three  weeks  after  the  return  of 
the  Harkaway  party,  Isaac  Mole  started  up  in  the  middle  of 
the  night,  and  snatching  up  his  revolver,  hobbled  off  on  his 
rounds. 

His  wife  vainly  endeavoured  to  dissuade  him. 

Now  Mr.  Mole  would  fain  have  aroused  his  friends  gener- 
ally, but  the  fact  was  that  he  had  cried  "  wolf  "  so  often,  that 
they  would  not  pay  any  heed  to  him  now. 

Chloe  tried  to  coax  him  into  going  back  to  bed  again,  but 
tried  in  vain. 

Down  he  hobbled  into  the  grounds,  nothing  on  but  his 
dressing-gown. 

Now  he  had  not  proceeded  far  when  he  saw  in  the  dim 
night  light  a  figure  crouching  by  the  back  door  of  his  house. 

"  Hallo  ! "  thought  Mole,  "  I've  got  him,  have  I  ?  " 
8 


114  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

What  could  he  be  doing  in  this  position  ? 

"  Evidently  trying  the  locks,"  thought  Mole. 

So  he  had  a  capital  notion. 

"  I'll  just  go  back  quietly,"  he  said  to  himself,  "  and  wait 
till  John  Chinaman  opens  the  door  and  then  meet  him  face 
to  face  inside  with  my  little  six-shooter — glorious  lark !  " 

So  full  of  glee  was  he  at  the  notion  that  he  could  scarce 
refrain  from  chuckling  aloud. 

Back  he  crept  around  the  house  and  into  the  room  and 
straight  up  to  the  door,  upon  the  outside  of  which  the  mid- 
night burglar  was  operating. 

Now  what  was  his  surprise  when  he  got  there  to  find  that 
the  thief  had  drilled  a  hole  on  each  side  of  the  door  large 
enough  to  get  his  hands  through  ? 

And  there  were  his  two  hands  groping  about  for  the  fast- 
tenings. 

Mr.  Mole  was  seized  with  a  brilliant  idea. 

So  grand  that  he  could  scarce  carry  it  into  execution  for 
laughing. 

He  looked  about  him  for  a  rope,  and  having  secured  a 
good  stout  one  he  hastily  made  a  running  noose  at  each  end 
of  it. 

This  done,  he  slowly  approached  the  two  hands,  held  the 
pair  of  nooses  over  them,  and  then,  with  a  sudden  jerk, 
tightened  them. 

"  Bagged  !  "  he  cried  ;  "  bagged,  by  the  everlasting  jingo  !  " 

He  dragged  at  the  poor  wretch's  wrists  with  no  gentle 
hand,  and  a  groan  of  anguish  came  through  the  door. 

"  Now,"  said  Mole,  "  I  must  administer  toko." 

Round  the  house  he  trotted,  and  reaching  the  exterior, 
found  his  prisoner  writhing  ineffectually  to  release  himself 
from  these  novel  stocks. 

"  I've  been  waiting  for  you  a  long  while,  my  friend,"  said 
Mole ;  "  and  now,  as  I'm  a  sinner,  I'll  enjoy  myself  on  your 
carcase." 

He  looked  for  a  stick. 

But  there  was  nothing  to  hand. 

Mole  was  up  in  arms,  and  he  was  not  likely  to  be  baulked 
of  his  revenge. 

A  happy  thought. 

He  had  two  wooden  legs  ;  one  would  suffice  for  his  present 
enjoyment. 

So  he  hurriedly  unscrewed  it  and  prepared  for  the  fray. 


AD  VENTURES  IN  CHINA.  115 

"  This  is  most  enjoyable,"  be  said  to  himself. 

So  he  turned  up  his  sleeves. 

Then  he  poised  his  wooden  leg  gracefully  in  his  hand. 

"  One,  two,  three,  and  that's  toko ! " 

Down  it  came  a  terrific  bang  on  the  poor  wretch's  back. 
The  thief  gave  a  yell. 

"Thafs  only  to  open  the  ball,  my  friend,"  said  Mole, 
cheerfully ;  "  we  shall  enjoy  ourselves  more  presently.*' 

Crack! 

"Chin-chin,"  said  Mole  pleasantly,  "how  does  that  style 
suit  yon?" 

Bang!     Bang! 

It  was  something  to  hear  him  yelL 

Mole  had  never  heard  any  music  that  pleased  him  half  so 
much. 

"Now,  my  dear  friend,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  pausing  for  a 
moment  to  take  breath :  "*  we  have  had  the  plain,  straight- 
forward hitting.  I'm  going  in  for  a  few  fancy  touches.''* 

Saying  which,  he  prodded  his  prisoner  desperately  in  the 
ribs. 

At  each  poke  the  thief  gave  a  "  Ugh ! "  that  reminded 
Mole  of  the  navvies  at  home,  knocking  in  the  paving  stones 
in  the  London  roads. 

He  writhed  and  yelled  and  shrieked. 

And  the  more  he  cried,  the  more  Mr.  Mole  laughed. 

"  Dear,  dear,"  he  cried,  «*  what  an  evening  I'm  having,  to 
be  sure :  and  all  to  myself." 

Whiz !     Crack ! 

He  played  a  little  wildly  now,  and  landed  an  awful  blow 
on  his  prisoner's  head. 

"Dear,  dear,  that  won't  do,"  he  said.  "I  shall  knock 
him  out  of  time  and  spoil  it  before  I've  had  half  my  penn'- 
orth out  of  him." 

Crack! 

"Mercy!" 

"  Hullo  ! "  said  Mole,  starting,  or  rather  hopping  back  in 
surprise,  "English!" 

Just  then  be  heard  the  voices  of  Harkaway,  Dick  Harvey, 
and  others  calling  him. 

"Mr.  Mole,  Mr.  Mole!" 

"All  right,"  shouted  Mole,  "here  I  am." 

"Where?" 

"  Round  here." 


1 1 6  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON  VT 

But  finding  that  they  did  not  arrive  very  quickly,  he 
hopped  after  them. 

"  Why,  what  in  the  name  of  all  that's  wonderful,  is  the 
meaning  of  this  ?  "  said  Jefferson. 

"  I've  bagged  a  burglar,"  returned  Mole. 

"  You  have  had  the  nightmare." 

"  Not  I,"  answered  Mole  with  a  chuckle.  "  I  thought  I 
should  surprise  you  ;  come  with  me." 

He  took  Harvey  by  the  arm  for  support. 

Now  just  as  they  turned  the  corner,  they  perceived  a  num- 
ber of  dark  forms  stealing  away  across  the  plantation,  and  all 
that  remained  in  evidence  of  Mr.  Mole's  prisoner,  was  the 
ends  of  the  rope. 

"Well,"  ejaculated  Mr.  Mole,  "  he  has  got  away.  But  he 
had  such  a  dose  of  my  wooden  leg  that  I  don't  think  he 
could  go  far." 

"  Your  leg  ?  " 

"  Where  is  it  ?  " 

"  Don't  you  see  ?  He  had  made  those  holes  to  reach  the 
iron  bars  on  the  inside,  and  there  I  caught  him  and  held  him 
too,  and  then  I  came  round  to  give  him  a  token  of  my  grat- 
itude, and  having  no  stick  handy,  I  unscrewed  one  of  my  legs, 
and  I  enjoyed  myself  ;  in  fact,  if  I  hadn't  left  to  show  you 
the  way,  I  should  probably  be  still  at  work  on  him." 

They  laughed  at  this. 

"  They  have  carried  him  off." 

"  Of  course  ;  I  knew  he  couldn't  walk  ;  I  spoilt  him  for 
that.  But  what  startled  me  was  that  he  called  for  mercy  in 
English." 

"English?" 

"  Yes." 

"  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  to  find  it  Bigamini  again." 

"  Well,  I  lost  a  leg  when  last  I  tackled  the  scoundrel 
Bigamini,  and  now  I've  lost  one  again." 

And  although  they  scoured  the  country  round  not  a  trace 
could  they  find  of  the  thieves  or  of  their  booty — Mr.  Mole's 
wooden  leg  ! 


AD  VENTURES  IN  CHINA.  1 1 7 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

IN  WHICH  MR.  MOLE   PLEDGES  HIMSELF  TO  TOTAL  ABSTINENCE 
FROM    ALCOHOLIC    LIQUORS. 

ISAAC  MOLE  soon  had  another  leg  made  for  him,  and  he 
stumped  through  his  tea  plantation,  gloating  over  his  late 
attack  on  the  midnight  burglar. 

The  weather  was  lovely. 

The  tea  shrubs  were  rapidly  approaching  a  state  of  per- 
fection. 

The  worthy  proprietor  was,  consequently,  in  a  most  glow- 
ing frame  of  mind.  His  pipe  was  in  his  mouth  and  his  rum 
flask  in  his  pocket. 

He  puffed  away  at  the  one,  and  every  now  and  then  had  a 
suck  at  the  other. 

Up  one  path  and  down  another  he  perambulated  amongst 
the  tea  plants  in  a  most  nimble  and  (bearing  in  mind  that 
he  had  a  pair  of  wooden  legs)  wonderful  manner. 

"  What  a  fortunate  fellow  I  am  !  "  he  soliloquised,  "  to 
have  dropped  into  this  plantation.  It  will  be  a  fortune  to  me 
if  I  look  carefully  after  it.  which  I  most  decidedly  intend  to 
do.  Oh  yes  !  I'll  look  after  it  It  will  be  something  to  leave 
Mrs.  Mole  and  the  chicks — if  we  have  any — when  I  depart 
this  life." 

This  last  idea  proved  somewhat  mournful  and  affecting, 
and  the  tears  came  into  the  eyes  of  the  ancient  tutor. 

He  paused  and  took  his  twentieth  pull  at  his  rum  flask. 

The  draught  comforted  him  considerably. 

"  Delicious  thing,  rum  !  "  he  murmured,  as  he  contemplated 
the  flask  affectionately  ;  "  very  delicious,  and  suits  my  con- 
stitution so  admirably — hie — so  admirably  ! " 

He  stumped  on  a  little  further,   and  then  stopped  again. 

"  What  a  fine  sight  a  rum  plantation  would  be  ! "  he 
exclaimed  suddenly  in  a  rapturous  manner  ;  "  fancy  rum 
bottles  full  of  old  Jamaica  all  ready  corked  and  sealed  growing 
in  rows  like  these  tea  shrubs.  Wouldn't  it  be  glorious  ? 
Yes,  it — hie — would  be ;  he,  he  !  decidedly — hie — glorious ! " 


1 1 8  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Another  suck  at  the  rum  flask,  and  another  after  that. 

It  might  have  been  observed  that  the  worthy  Isaac  grad- 
ually became  more  unsteady  in  his  gait. 

His  wooden  legs  forgot  themselves  on  several  occasions, 
and  seemed  inclined  to  play  strange  tricks. 

Wandering  out  of  the  path,  and  burying  themselves  every 
now  and  then  deep  in  the  mould,  in  an  extremely  inconvenient 
manner  for  their  owner. 

Had  there  been  such  a  thing  as  a  plug  hole  in  the  way,  it 
is  more  than  probable  they  would  have  immediately  stuck  in  it. 

Fortunately,  however,  for  Mr.  Mole's  peace  of  mind,  plug 
holes  are  scarce  in  China. 

"  After  all,"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  extricated  his  wooden  mem- 
bers from  the  soil  for  the  fifth  time,  and  nearly  fell  on  his 
back  in  the  effort,  "wooden  legs,  however  admirably  con- 
structed, are  not  to  be  compared  with  the  natural  limbs. 
Oh  dear  no  !  " 

He  stood  looking  down  at  the  end  of  one  stump,  and  con- 
tinued meditatively — 

"  That  round  knob  is  all  very  well  in  its  way,  but  it  isn't  a 
foot — no  ! — any  more  then  a  foot  is  a  yard — hie  !  " 

Mr.  Mole's  eyes  were  by  this  time  decidedly  rummy  in 
their  expression. 

They  rolled  in  his  head,  and  had  a  vacant  and  dreamy 
aspect. 

He  tried  to  progress,  but  in  vain. 

His  wooden  legs  grew  more  unruly  than  ever,  making  the 
worthy  gentleman  stagger  in  a  most  perilous  manner  from 
one  side  of  the  path  to  the  other. 

"  Hallo  !  hallo  !  steady,  Mole — hie — steady,  old  boy ! "  he 
hiccoughed. 

But  this  friendly  caution  from  himself  was  of  little  avail. 

He  staggered  more  than  ever. 

It  was  pretty  evident  the  excellent  man  was  getting  what 
is  commonly  called  very  tight. 

Not  that  he  seemed  to  have  the  smallest  suspicion  of  any 
such  thing. 

"  Not  so  young  as  I  used  to  be. 

"  Can't  imagine — hie — what  can  have  taken  such — hie— 
singular  effect  upon  me,"  he  murmured. 

He  gave  a  lurch  as  he  spoke,  but  recovered  himself. 

Only  dropping  his  pipe,  which  shivered  into  atoms. 

"  I  think  I'll  have — hie — snooze  in  the  pavil " 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA. 


119 


He  attempted  to  take  a  step  foward,  but  the  attempt  was 
perfectly  futile. 

He  reeled,  hiccoughed,  and  finally  he  and  his  rum  bottle 
descended  into  one  of  the  soft  tea  beds. 

Having  reached  this  stage,  he  became  quite  maudlin. 

"  I  say,  old  Mole,"  he  said,  "  I  am  afraid,  old  fellow,  that 
you  are  getting  tight." 

Then  he  shouted — 

"  For  he's  a  jolly  good  feller— hie  I 
And  so  say  all— hie  — us  1 " 

Having  accomplished  this  in  a  very  disconnected  and 
broken  manner,  he  immediately  fell  asleep. 

He  had  not  slept  long  when,  as  chance  would  have  it, 
young  Jack  Harkaway  came  up  to  the  spot. 

The  pupil  contemplated  his  venerable  instructor,  and  at 
once  comprehended  the  state  of  affairs. 

"  Tight  again,"  he  remarked  briefly,  as  he  shrugged  his 
shoulders. 

And  then  at  once  applied  himself  to  the  attempt  to  bring 
his  erring  master  to  his  senses. 

The  means  he  used  were  all  excellent  in  their  way. 

He  pinched  his  nose  till  it  was  ruddier  than  the  cherry. 

He  tickled  his  nostrils  with  a  peculiar  species  of  Chinese 
bramble  supposed  to  be  wonderfully  efficacious  in  producing 
an  irritating  sensation. 

He  pulled  his  hair  vigorously. 

This  not  proving  successful,  he  administered  a  few  gentle 
kicks  in  the  ribs. 

After  which  he  grasped  his  venerable  tutor's  wooden  legs, 
and  worked  them  energetically,  as  he  would  have  done  pump 
handles. 

But  neither  pinching,  tickling,  pulling,  nor  pumping  pro- 
duced any  effect  whatever. 

The  great  Isaac  would  not  be  aroused. 

Finding  it,  therefore,  a  hopeless  case,  he  hurried  off  to  hit 
father. 

"  Oh,  dad  ! "  he  exclaimed,  as  he  rushed  into  the  room  - 
"  such  a  lark." 

"  What  lark  ?  "  inquired  his  parent. 

"  Here's  old  Mole  lying  drunk  and  incapable  in  his  te*. 
plantation." 


120  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON  'S 

"  Do  you  call  that  a  lark,  sir  ? "  asked  his  father,  trying  ;o 
look  serious,  but  feeling  at  the  same  time  rather  inclined  to 
smile. 

"  Well,  perhaps  not,"  admitted  our  hero. 

"  I  should  rather  call  it  very  disgraceful  on  Mr.  Mole's 
part,"  continued  Mr.  Harkaway. 

"  So  it  is,  certainly,"  admitted  young  Jack ;  "  that's  what 
I  meant,  and  I  thought  we  might  have  a  lark  with  him,  to 
teach  him  a  lesson  in  future." 

"  No,  no,  my  boy,"  said  his  father :  "  it's  not  good  to  make 
the  great  vice  of  drunkenness  a  theme  for  larks." 

"  Well,  but  what's  to  be  done  with  him,  dad  ?  "  asked  Jack  ; 
"  Ive  tried  to  wake  him  up,  but  I  can't." 

"  The  best  thing  you  can  do  is  to  go  and  fetch  his  wife." 

Away  ran  Jack. 

In  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time,  Mrs.  Mole  might  have 
been  seen  hurrying  eagerly  to  the  spot,  her  dark  eyes  flashing 
with  indignation. 

In  her  hand  she  held  one  of  China's  choicest,  and  in  the 
present  case  most  useful,  productions — a  bamboo  cane. 

"  Me  teach  him  somethink,"  she  exclaimed  angrily  :  "  me 
let  him  know  it  not  right  to  drink  till  him  knock  off  him  legs." 

In  a  very  short  time  she  reached  the  spot  where  the  un- 
conscious Mole  still  slumbered  profoundly,  instinctively  grasp- 
ing his  rum  flask  even  in  sleep. 

"  Oh,  you  bad  man  !  you  bad,  wicked  man  !  "  she  exclained 
at  length,  "  dis  de  way  you  keep  your  word  wid  me,  is  it  ?  " 

No  answer  was  returned. 

"  Didn't  you  promise  me  you  not  get  druuk  nebber  no  more, 
eh,  sar  ?  What  you  got  to  say  for  yourself,  eh  ?  " 

The  inebriate  husband  in  reply  uttered  a  snore  that  sounded 
like  the  passage  of  air  through  a  choked  gaspipe. 

"  Don't  make  dat  drefful  noise,  but  answer  me  what  I  ask 
you,  sar  J  "  exclaimed  the  indignant  Chloe  angrily,  as  she 
nourished  the  bamboo  over  her  spouse. 

The  latter  gave  her  no  response,  save  that  he  made  an- 
other "  drefful  noise  "  with  his  nasal  apparatus. 

This  brought  the  anger  of  his  better  half  to  a  climax. 

And  grasping  the  cane  with  determination,  she  brought  it 
down  upon  her  husband's  body  with  the  utmost  intensity. 

Whack,  whack,  whack !  swish,  swish,  swish  !  it  went  on  his 
ribs  and  in  the  adjoining  localities,  but  the  votary  of  the  rum 
flask  still  slumbered  and  snored  on. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  i« 

"What  ami  to  do  wid  him ?"  soliloquised  his  despair- 
ing  wife.  "  He  no  mind  my  words ;  be  no  mind  mj  cane  - 
he  no  mind  nothink.  What  must  I  do  ?" 

44 1  know  what,"  exclaimed  a  voice  near  at  hand. 

Looking  up,  she  saw  a  party  approaching. 

This  parry  cnnshtfd  of  young  Jack,  Mr.  Harkaway,  and 
Dick  Harvey. 

-  If  I  were  you,  Mrs.  Mole,"  said  Harkaway,  - 1  should  get 
your  husband  borne  to  bed  as  quickly  as  possible." 

" Home  to  bed !"  echoed  Mrs.  Mote,  excitedly ;  *  how  me 
get  him  dere,  when  he  can't  walk  on  him  wooden  legs?" 

"  It  is  awkward  certainly,"  Harkaway  said. 

"I  know  what  we  must  do,  dad,"  remarked  young  Jack, 
suddenly. 

•'What?  "asked  his  father. 

"We  must  water  him,"  returned  our  hero  in  a  very  de- 
cided tone. 

"  Water  him,  Massa  Jack?"  echoed  Mrs.  Mofe.  "What 
you  water  him  wid?" 

"With  a— with  a  garden  engine,"  continued  the  youthful 

r.nmm—-  «»l|-»^        at  •>•  •!•.•!     «t- •_^._     *^_    1,  _"  _  ,-  •_      4  ^     ,g,  ,  -        

counsellor ;  capital  rning  to  onng  people  to  roeir  senses 
when  they've  had  too  much  to  drink." 

"Am  it  though?" 

"  Oh,  yes ;  the  water  penetrates  the  pores  of  theskm,  mixes 
with  the  spirit  and  destroys  its  power,  and  the  drinker  comes 
to  his  senses." 

"Oh,  do  try  de  water,  Massa  Jack,  please." 

Our  hero  wanted  no  persuasion. 

He  was  quite  ready  to  perform  the  diluting  {unrrm 

Aixx»f djugly  he  hunted  away  to  where  a  garden  <mgine 
stood  that  was  used  in  watering  the  tea  shrubs. 

With  this  useful  and  effective  instrument  be  played  upon 
the  body  of  his  unconscious  tutor  until  every  thread  of  his 

^—  -^   ,.       ,        _.       ^ ,    -«,.._„_.  ._!.  | . .    J-^— »  n t>  n  J 

gSuiDenis  was  tnoroagiuy  arciiCDca- 

Mole  turned  on  his  side  and  mumbled  out— 

"  A  little  more  rum,  please." 

Still  he  did  not  revive. 

Under  these  circumstances  no  other  alternative  remained 
but  to  carry  him  home. 

A  kind  of  stretcher,  formed  of  bamboo  canes,  was  hastily 

and  carried  to  his  apartments. 

It  was  not  tifl  breakfast  time  the  next  morning  that  Me 


122  JACK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

Isaac  Mole  hobbled  somewhat  sheepishly  into  the  breakfast- 
room. 

The  party  were  all  assembled  there. 

Mrs.  Mole  presided  at  the  breakfast-table. 

John  Harkaway  looked  at  his  quondam  tutor  as  he  entered 
with  becoming  sternness. 

Dick  Harvey  also  threw  a  reproachful  expression  into  his 
features. 

Young  Jack,  not  to  be  behindhand,  knitted  his  brows  and 
evinced  as  much  quiet  disgust  as  possible. 

Chloe  looked  at  her  spouse  with  a  kind  of  subdued  fe- 
rocity that  seemed  to  imply  what  she  would  have  done  if  she 
could. 

Mr.  Isaac  Mole  had  a  sort  of  inward  conviction  that  some- 
thing was  wrong. 

He  had,  moreover,  distressing  sensations  of  nausea,  and  a 
splitting  headache. 

He  approached  the  table  and  sank  into  a  chair. 

"  Good-morning,  my  friends  !  "  he  murmured,  as  he  passed 
his  hands  over  his  throbbing  forehead. 

"Good-morning,  sir,"  returned  Harkaway,  senior,  freez- 
ingly. 

"  Good-morning,  sir,"  echoed  the  rest. 

Then  followed  a  dead  silence,  during  which  the  victim  of 
the  rum  flask  looked  wistfully  at  the  tea-pot. 

"  I — a — think,  my  love,"  he  said,  at  length,  to  his  spouse, 
humbly,  "  I'll  take  a  cup  of  tea,  if  you  please.  I  don't  feel 
very  well  this  morning ;  it  must  be  the  weather." 

Mrs.  Mole  looked  any  thing  but  pleased,  but  she  poured 
him  out  a  cup  of  tea. 

"Ah!"  he  sighed,  after  taking  a  prolonged  sip,  "deli- 
cious beverage,  tea  !  So  invigorating,  so  refreshing." 

"  I  should  think  you  must  find  its  invigorating  properties 
particularly  serviceable  this  morning,  Mr.  Mole,"  remarked 
John  Harkaway,  senior,  sarcastically  to  him  across  the  table. 

"  Well,  ye-es,  my  dear  John ;  perhaps  I  do,"  admitted  the 
tutor  ;  "  my  head  is  very  heavy  this  morning." 

"  No  wonder,  either,  after  your  proceedings  of  yesterday." 

"  My  proceedings  of  yesterday  ! "  echoed  Isaac,  obliviously. 
"  Let  me  see  ;  what  did  I  do  yesterday  ?  " 

"  What  did  you  do  ?  "  answered  Harkaway.  "  Why,  you 
drank  yourself  into  a  state  of  intoxication,  and  were  found  in 
a  most  disgraceful  condition  in  your  own  plantation." 


AD  VENTURES  IN  CHINA.  1 23 

Mr.  Mole  turned  up  his  eyes  either  with  real  or  affected 
horror. 

"  My  dear  John,  you  don't  mean  to  say  this  ?  "  he  exclaimed 
faintly.  "  You  really  don't  mean  to  assert  that  I  was — a — 
found  in — a — a  state  of — a " 

The  worthy  man's  voice  died  away  and  became  inaudible. 

"  It's  a  melancholy  fact,"  accredited  Dick  Harvey,  with  a 
solemn  shake  of  his  head. 

"  That  it  is,"  joined  in  young  Jack,  shrugging  his  shoulders 
in  harmony  with  the  rest ;  "  I  fired  away  at  you  with  the  gar- 
den engine  for  ever  so  long,  and  it  didn't  take  any  other 
effect  on  you  than  to  make  you  call  for  more  rum." 

"  You  wicked,  good -for-  nothing,  disobedient  man  !  "  joined 
in  Chloe,  "what  tink  become  ob  you — eh ? " 

Mr.  Mole  did  not  seem  to  have  any  very  distinct  ideas  on 
the  subject 

In  fact  his  perceptive  powers  just  then  appeared  to  be  in 
a  fog. 

He  murmured  something  not  very  comprehensive,  and 
passed  his  cup  for  more  tea. 

He  could  see  from  the  manner  of  his  friends  that  he  had 
committed  himself  seriously  in  their  estimation,  and  he  felt 
very  uncomfortable  in  consequence. 

Harkaway  spoke  again. 

"  I  think,  Mr.  Mole,  at  your  time  of  life,  it  is  your  bounden 
duty  to  be  more  guarded  in  the  quantities  you  drink." 

"  You  are  quite  right,  my  dear  John  ;  quite  right,"  admitted 
the  guilty  one ;  "  my  conduct  is  unpardonable,  but  I'll  alter 
it ;  I  will,  indeed.  The  fact  is,  I  suppose  I'm  not  so  strong 
as  I  was,  and  the  spirit  takes  more  effect  upon  me  on  that 
account." 

"  You  ought  nebber  touch  spirits  no  more  !  "  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Mole  to  her  husband  indignantly ;  "  dey  be  no  good  to 
you." 

"  I  think  the  same,"  joined  in  Harkaway,  "  and  if  you 
would  be  advised  by  me,  you  would  become  a  total  abstainer 
from  this  moment." 

Mr.  Mole  became  suddenly  contemplative. 

He  seemed  to  be  forming  some  grand  resolution. 

At  length,  his  mind  being  fixed,  he  rose  to  his  feet,  or 
rather  to  his  timber,  and  exclaimed,  oratorically — 

"  Yes  ;  I've  decided  !     Isaac  Mole,  thou  hast  triumphed 


124  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

over  thy  natural  weakness ;  henceforth  farewell  to  alcohol 
and  welcome  the  pump  !  " 

"  Bravo  !  bravo  !  "  murmured  his  listeners.  Chloe  seemed 
highly  gratified. 

"  You  nebber  drink  no  more  rum,  Isaac  ? "  she  said  to 
him  appealingly  as  she  grasped  him  by  the  hand. 

"  Never,  my  beloved  ;  never,  never,  never  !  "  returned  the 
virtuously  repentant  husband,  fervently.  "  From  this  mo- 
ment, to  the  end  of  my  existence,  I  shall  devote  myself  to 
that  cheering  but  harmless  beverage,  tea." 

"  Tea  ?  "  cried  young  Jack. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mole  ;  "  nothing  but  what  we  can  get  from 
tea." 

This  laudable  resolution  was  warmly  applauded  by  Hark- 
away  and  the  rest,  and  in  the  height  of  his  praiseworthy 
determination,  Mr.  Mole  produced  paper,  pens,  and  ink, 
and  drew  up  a  solemn  protest  of  future  sobriety  and  devo- 
tion to  the  tea  shrub. 

This  he  signed  in  the  presence  of  witnesses  who  attested 
his  signature. 

No  man  in  the  world  henceforth  would  be  more  tem- 
perate than  Isaac  Mole. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

MB.  MOLE  BREAKS  HIS  PLEDGE,  AND  RECEIVES  AN  AWFUL  VISL 
TATION    IN    CONSEQUENCE. 

FOR  some  time  all  went  well. 

At  least,  as  well  as  could   be  expected. 

The  Harkaways  were  anxious  to  be  off  to  Greece ;  but 
Spirillo  had  been  attacked  with  a  severe  illness,  and  was 
unable  to  move. 

Without  him  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt  to  find  the 
treasure. 

However,  he  was  well  attended  by  the  old  American 
doctor,  who  promised  that  he  should  soon  be  well. 

The  worthy  tutor  adhered  to  his  teetotal  resolution  with 
heroic  firmness. 

Occupied  with  his  tea  plantation,  he  seemed  to  have  for- 
gotten that  such  a  thing  as  old  Jamaica  existed. 

But  this  was  not  to  last 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  12* 

Isaac  had  been  so  long  accustomed  to  his  drops  of  mm 
that  he  began  to  feel  the  want  of  his  usual  stimulant. 

He  became  rather  low-spirited  over  his  abstinence. 

His  limbs  grew  shaky. 

As  for  his  wooden  legs,  he  couldn't  manage  them  at  all. 

"  This  won't  do,"  he  said  to  himself  one  day  as  he  sat 
alone.  "  I'm  getting  quite  nervous  and  dyspeptic." 

He  got  up,  and  having  nothing  else  to  fly  to,  he  took  a 
pull  at  a  tea-pot  which  he  always  kept  ready  at  hand. 

"  Very  nice  and  refreshing,  I  daresay,  for  some  people," 
he  remarked  with  a  vehement  shudder ;  "  but  I  really  don't 
think  Pekoe  suits  my  constitution.  I  feel  as  wishy  washy 
as  a  water-butt,  and  as  shaky  as  an  old  woman. 

"  It's  very  awkward  too,"  he  continued ;  "  I've  taken  the 
pledge.  Signed  and  sealed  in  the  presence  of  witnesses  a 
vow  of  abstinence  from  all  ardent  spirits.  Oh,  dear !  dear  I 
it's  very  awkward,  I  must  break  my  vow  !  No !  rather  will  I 
die  a  martyr  to  pump  water  and  tea  leaves." 

With  a  sigh  of  resignation  the  virtuous  Isaac  reseated 
himself,  and  filling  his  pipe,  tried  to  banish  his  inward  sensa- 
tions by  the  soothing  influence  of  tobacco. 

Just  at  that  moment  a  packet  of  letters  arrived  from  Eng- 
land. 

Amongst  them  a  newspaper  for  Mr.  Mole. 

The  desponding  tutor  received  it  with  avidity,  and 
eagerly  tore  it  open. 

He  had  not  read  far,  when  suddenly  he  uttered  a  vehe- 
ment exclamation  and  stopped. 

One  announcement  had  caught  his  eye,  and  quite  riveted 
his  attention. 

This  was— 

-  Robur,  spirit  of  tea." 

The  orbs  of  the  worthy  tutor  dilated  at  this  announce- 
ment. 

And  beginning  to  peruse  the  advertisement,  he  read — 

"  *  Robur  is  a  pure  spirit  free  from  essential  oil.' 

"  That  would  do  for  me  exactly,  I  think,"  he  muttered, 
hopefully,  and  then  went  on — 

**  •  Robur,  though  not  intoxicating,  possesses  great  stimu- 
lating powers.* 

"That's  the  very  thing." 

In  his  excitement  he  started  up,  and  seized  his  hat. 

"  I  stxan't  be  breaking  my  vow  either,"  he  soliloquised, 


136  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

*  I  pledged  myself  to  stick  to  tea,  and  robur  is  tea — the 
pure  spirit  of  tea.  What  better  cordial  could  I  take  ? " 

Away  went  Mr.  Mole  straight  to  one  of  the  quays. 

There  he  found  an  English  vessel,  and  to  his  great  joy,  a 
quantity  of  robur  amongst  her  cargo. 

The  delighted  Isaac  purchased  a  large  quantity. 

Having  seen  it  safely  deposited,  he,  as  the  evening  drew 
on,  made  preparations  for  a  little  quiet  festivity  all  to  him- 
self. 

The  scene  of  this  harmless  conviviality  was  to  be  a  pavil- 
ion which  Mr.  Mole  had  built  in  his  grounds,  as  a  kind  of 
private  study. 

Here  then  he  conveyed  a  sufficient  quantity  of  the  spirit 
of  tea,  with  hot  water  and  sugar,  pipes  and  tobacco,  and 
having  locked  himself  in  proposed  to  enjoy  himself. 

Having  uncorked  a  bottle,  he  mixed  himself  a  glass  of 
the  spirit. 

"  I'll  drink  my  own  good  health,"  he  said  with  a  com- 
placent smile,  as  he  raised  the  glass  to  his  lips,  and  took  a 
good  swig. 

"  It's  queer  stuff  to  taste  !  "  he  murmured,  making  a  wry 
face,  "  decidedly  queer.  It's  very  warming  to  the  stomach, 
though." 

And  he  began  to  persuade  himself  that  robur  was  a  very 
excellent  beverage. 

Anyhow,  it  warmed  him,  and  its  stimulating  qualities 
began  to  tell  upon  him  agreeably. 

"  I'm  beginning  to  feel  quite  myself  again,"  he  said  to 
himself,  "  quite  •,  another  glass  or  two,  and  Mole  will  be  him- 
self again." 

Leaving  the  worthy  to  concoct  his  other  glass,  let  us  now 
adjourn  to  the  outside  of  the  pavilion,  to  a  spot  where 
young  Jack  Harkaway  was  quietly  taking  stock  of  the  un- 
conscious Mole. 

Our  hero  had  observed  that  his  tutor  on  that  particular 
evening  had  made  several  mysterious  journeys  to  and  fro 
from  his  house  to  the  pavilion. 

These  facts  were  quite  sufficient  to  arouse  Master  Jack's 
suspicions. 

"  Something's  up,  I  know,"  he  said  to  himself  ;  "  the 
question  is — what  ?  " 

This  he  was  not  very  long  arriving  at. 

Under  the  influence  of  several  glasses  of  the  stimulant, 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  12 J 

Mr.  Mole  began  to  talk  to  himself  in  a  glowing  and  fervid 
strain. 

Then  growing  more  convivial,  he  became  also  poetical, 
and  sang  extempore — 

"  Delectable  Robur !     Spirit  of  Tea ! 
Oh,  v;hat  a  boon  to  weak  mortals  like  me ; 
I  thought  not  long  since  with  me  'twas  all  over, 
But  I'm  quite  put  to  rights  by  this  exquisite  Robur! 
Beautiful  Robur !  exquisite  Robur  ! 
I'm  quite  put  to  rights  by  this  exquisite  Robur." 

Young  Jack,  never  having  heard  of  this  delicious  com- 
pound, was  rather  puzzled  to  know  what  its  virtues  con- 
sisted of. 

But  presently,  when  he  observed  his  venerable  tutor 
start  up  and  plunge  headlong  into  stumping  the  "  sailors' 
hornpipe,"  whistling  his  own  music,  he  began  to  suspect  the 
truth. 

"  I  see  what  it  is,"  he  said  to  himself ;  "  it's  some  Chinese 
spirit  he's  got  hold  of,  and  as  he's  pledged  himself  not  to 
drink  rum,  I  suppose  he's  doing  his  best  to  get  tight  on 
this — what  does  he  call  it  ? — robur ;  yes,  that's  it." 

Mr.  Mole,  having  finished  his  hornpipe,  sat  down  again 
and  applied  himself  once  more  to  his  libations. 

So  diligently  did  he  fill  and  refill,  that  in  less  than  an  hour 
he  had  reached  the  desired  point. 

He  was  once  more  completely  intoxicated. 

"  Who  cares  for — hie — anybody  ?  "  he  hiccoughed.  "  I 
don't ;  I  don't  care  for  Mrs.  Mole,  not  I — hie !  Bother  Mrs. 
Mole  !  who's  she,  I  should  like — know  ?  Ugly  black — hie — 
woolly-haired  female  !  I'll  go  to  bed  ;  no  one  can  disturb  me 
there.'" 

As  he  spoke,  he  staggered  to  a  couch,  which  he  had  fitted 
up  in  the  pavilion,  and  fell  asleep,  singing  in  a  very  maudlin 
tone — 

«  Beau'ful  Robnr !     beau'ful  Robnr ! 
Quite— hie— put— rights— beau'ful  Robur." 

Jack's  determination  was  quickly  formed. 
"  I'll  cure  you  of  this,  Mr.  Mole,  if  I  can,"  he  said  to  him- 
self. 

He  at  once  went  in  search  of  Sunday  and  Monday. 


1 28  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

He  was  not  long  in  finding  them. 

"  Come  along  with  me,"  he  said ;  "  I'm  going  to  play  old 
Mole  a  trick,  and  I  want  you  to  help  me." 

"  Golly,  Massa  Jack,  we  help  you,"  they  exclaimed  ea- 
gerly ;  "  what  can  we  do  ?  " 

"Go  first  and  get  two  sheets  and  two  white  nightcaps  and 
some  chalk,  and  meet  me  at  the  pavilion.  I'll  explain  what 
you're  to  do  then." 

Away  went  the  niggers  to  collect  these  necessaries,  chuck- 
ling over  the  prospect  of  the  forthcoming  lark. 

In  the  meantime,  young  Jack  made  a  collection  of  such 
articles  as  he  required  for  the  carrying  out  of  his  project. 

In  a  short  time  they  met  outside  the  pavilion. 

Here  our  hero  distinctly  explained  to  his  sable  companions 
what  he  wished  them  to  do. 

The  shades  of  evening  had  fallen. 

A  cool,  gentle  breeze,  laden  with  fragrance,  swept  over  the 
garden. 

Not  very  far  from  the  pavilion  there  was  a  large  tank. 

This  tank  supplied  the  water  necessary  for  irrigating  the 
tea  shrubs,  and  was  quite  full. 

A  rather  broad  plank  was  placed,  by  Jack's  direction,  with 
one  end  resting  on  the  ground  and  the  other  overhanging  the 
edge  of  the  tank,  so  that  anyone  walking  up  this  plank,  it 
would,  when  they  reached  the  extremity,  tilt  over,  and  pre- 
cipitate them  into  the  water  beneath. 

"  Golly  !  what  dat  for  ?  "  asked  the  darkies,  with  natural 
curiosity. 

"  That's  the  cold  water  bath  into  which  Mr.  Isaac  Mole 
will  be  lured  by  the  spectres  of  his  deceased  wives,"  replied 
young  Jack,  grinning. 

Our  hero  then  led  the  way  to  the  pavilion. 

"  Now  then,  my  boys,"  he  said  to  his  companions,  "dress 
yourselves  up  in  your  sheets  and  nightcaps,  chalk  your  faces, 
and  make  yourselves  as  ghastly  as  you  possibly  can." 

"  Cert'nly,  Massa  Jack.  We  make  ourselves  drefful  frights 
in  'bout  two  minutes,"  they  replied. 

Whilst  Sunday  and  Monday  were  bringing  themselves  up 
to  a  proper  state  of  ghastliness,  our  hero  very  quietly  opened 
the  window  and  clambered  into  the  pavilion. 

All  within  was  perfectly  dark. 

Feeling  his  way  to  the  table,  Jack  at  length  came  upon 
the  lamp. 


A'  CHINA.  12g 

This  he  kindled,  but  kept  it  tinned  low  lest  he  should 
awaken  the  sleeper. 

There  lay  Mr.  Mole  on  his  back,  with  his  wooden  legs  stick- 
ing up  in  the  air  tike  a  pair  of  sign-posts. 

Having  completed  this  brief  examination,  our  hero  pro- 
ceeded to  business. 

First  he  grasped  the  nearest  wooden  leg,  and  pulled  it  from 
the  perpendicular  to  a  horizontal  position. 

He  then  with  a  small  centre-bit,  bored  a  large  hole  in  die 
end  of  the  wooden  member  till  it  was  quite  hollow. 

This  he  filled  tightly  with  gunpowder. 

He  tlien  tied  a  squib  close  upon  it. 

These  arrangements  being  completed,  he  opened  the  door 
and  admitted  Sunday  and  Monday,  who  looked  hideously 
ghostly  in  their  white  sheets. 

•*  What  we  do  now  ?  "  they  asked. 

44  Wait  a  moment,  and  111  show  you,"  answered  their  youth- 
ful director. 

As  he  spoke,  he  emptied  some  yellowish  powder  in  a  long 
line  on  the  floor,  and  then  a  similar  stream  of  powder  of  a 
darkish  green. 

Into  each  of  these  he  placed  a  piece  of  quick  match. 

"  That's  for  the  *  ghost  effects,' '"  said  our  hero,  with  a  smile. 

The  last  operation  our  hero  performed  was  to  smear  a 
quantity  of  phosphorus  over  the  prominent  parts  of  the  dark- 
ies'' features. 

Then  lowering  the  lamp,  till  die  interior  of  die  pavilion  was 
in  profound  obscurity,  he  placed  Sunday  and  Monday  at  die 
foot  of  die  couch  behind  die  curtains,  and  told  diem  to  wait 
diere  tin  he  gave  die  signal. 

He  then  crouched  down  himself  out  of  sight,  armed  widi 
his  matches  and  every  diing  necessary,  and  waited. 

After  a  time,  Mr.  Mole's  timepiece  struck  eleven. 

The  effects  of  die  robnr  were  beginning  to  wear  off. 

Isaac  Mole  began  to  grow  restless. 

He  left  off  snoring  and  took  to  grunting  and  groaning. 

"Water— water!"  he  gasped. 

Young  Jack  crept  quietly  to  a  sideboard,  and  possessing 
himself  of  die  water  jug,  erect  back,  and  gave  his  tutor  a 
good  drenching. 

Mr.  Mole  almost  shrieked  at  die  cold  water  application. 

"Whoisit?  What  is  it?  "  he  called  out;  "  is  anybody 
fll'" 


130  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Awfully  deep  groans  answered  him. 

"  Good  gracious  !  what's  the  matter  ? — where  am  I  ?  "  he 
faltered,  as  he  pulled  himself  up  to  a  sitting  posture,  and 
looked  out  into  the  darkness. 

Profound  silence  reigned  around. 

"  Any  body  there  ? "  Mr.  Mole  asked,  tremulously. 

"  Oh,  oh,  oh  !  "  answered  an  awfully  deep  voice. 

"  Oh,  oh,  oh  !  "  echoed  another  voicejpf  equal  profundity. 

The  tutor  began  to  feel  his  hair  "bristle  slightly,  as  he 
cried — 

"  Oh,  oh,  oh  !  " 

"  Isaac  Mole  ! — Isaac  Mole  !  "  continued  the  first  voice. 

"  Isaac  Mole  ! — Isaac  Mole  !  "  repeated  the  second. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  What  do  you  want  ?  Isaac  Mole's  gone 
out,"  faintly  gurgled  the  preceptor. 

"  We  am  de  sperrits  ob  you  unhappy  wives." 

"  I've  got  no  wife  but  one,"  cried  the  alarmed  Mole  ;  "  I'll 
take  my  oath  I  haven't." 

"  Don't  tell  none  ob  you  wicked  lies,  you  base  deceiver  !  " 
replied  Sunday  and  Monday,  imitating  the  feminine  tone 
as  closely  as  possible ;  "  you  know  you  got  two  oder 
wives." 

"Where— where  are  they  now?"  groaned  Mole  nervously. 

"  Here  we  am,"  exclaimed  two  deeply  solemn  voices  from 
the  foot  of  the  couch. 

Isaac  Mole  heard  the  voices,  and  looked  towards  the  spot 
whence  they  proceeded. 

Gradually,  as  he  looked,  two  white  figures  glided  from 
behind  the  drapery  and  stood  before  the  scared  Isaac. 

Their  faces  were  of  a  ghastly  grey  hue,  and  their  features 
shone  with  a  blazing  phosphoric  light. 

The  jaws  of  the  venerable  Isaac  began  to  chatter. 

It  must  be  his  deceased  wives  come  to  pay  him  a  visit. 

"  What  do  you  want,  my  dear  loves  ?  "  he  asked,  in  trem- 
bling accents,  every  particular  hair  in  his  head  standing  bolt 
upright  with  horror. 

"  We  here  to  warn  you,  Isaac  Mole,"  replied  the  dear  loves 
in  awfully  hollow  tones. 

"Warn  me  of  what?"  Isaac  inquired,  his  teeth  rattling 
together  like  a  pair  of  castanets. 

"  Of  your  approaching  doom." 

"  My  approaching  doom  ? "  echoed  Mole,  in  a  tone  of 
horrible  incredulity. 


ADVENTURES  Hi  CHINA.  131 

"  We  tefl  you  your  doom  fixed,"  replied  Monday ;  •*  you 
come  to  jine  us  in  de  world  ob  sperrits." 

"  Bat,  my  dear  loves,  I  don't  wish  to  join  you  in  the  land 
of  spirits." 

At  that  moment  the  ghostly  figures  seemed  as  though  they 
would  have  clutched  poor  Mole. 

-  Get  out !  "  roared  the  bewildered  Mole ;  "  I'm  not  going 
with  you.  I'm  in  robust  health,  and  intend  to  live  fifty  rears 
longer.  Go  away,  I  command  you,  and  don't  annoy  me  any 
longer." 

The  spectres  laughed  mockingly. 

*•  Ha,  ha,  ha !  your  hours  am  numbered,  Isaac  Mole ;  you 
have  not  twelve  hours  to  live." 

At  this  terrible  announcement  Mole  sat  upright  in  his  bed. 

**  You  pair  of  ugly  frights,  I  don't  believe  you,"  he  roared. 
"  Why  shouldn't  I  live  ? — what's  the  matter  with  me  ?  I'm 
still  young." 

"  You've  destroyed  your  constitution  wid  rum  ! "  answered 
the  spectres.  "  Yon  go  off  all  ob  a  sudden  wid  spontaneous 
combustion.  You  go  pop,  and  your  ugly  head  go  off." 

"•  It  shan't,  I  tell  you,"  roared  Mole,  who  was  in  a  cold 
sweat  with  terror.  "I've  turned  teetotaller.  There  isn't  a 
drop  of  spirit  in  me." 

"  Ho !  ho !  ho !  "  laughed  the  spectres  in  a  hollow,  iron- 
ical tone ;  "  you  all  spirit ;  see !  " 

As  they  spoke,  one  of  the  spectres  glided  to  the  foot  of 
the  couch  and  placed  its  ghastly  finger  on  the  tutor's  wooden 

leg- 

A  slight  fax  was  heard. 

And  a  bright  shower  of  sparks  poured  out  from  the  end  of 
the  wooden  member. 

Isaac  Mole  fell  back  aghast  on  the  couch. 

"  Mercy  on  me !  "  he  shrieked  loudly ;  "  murder !  fire ! 
Mar— ur— ur— der." 

Then  followed  a  tremendous  bang. 

The  interior  of  the  pavilion  was  lighted  up  with  a  bright, 
gfrmfy  blue  glare. 

The*  tutor  could  see  that  his  wooden  leg  was  completely 
shattered. 

"  Oh,  mv  poor  leg.     I'm  a  dead  man,"  he  groaned. 

44  Isaac  Mole,  Isaac  Mole,  follow  us,"  cried  the  spectres. 

"I — I  can't;"  be  returned;  "my  leg's  shivered  into 
atoms.  I  can't  walk  without  my  leg." 


132  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  Thea  hop  !  "  shouted  the  remorseless  ghosts. 

A  bright  green  light  now  illumined  the  interior  with 
ghastly  distinctness. 

"  Are  you  coming  ? "  demanded  the  spectres,  imper- 
atively. "  If  you  don't  we  shall " 

They  made  a  step  forward,  but  Isaac  Mole,  in  an  agony  of 
terror,  sprang  from  the  bed. 

"  I'll  try,"  he  exclaimed.     "  Which  way  am  I  to  go  ?  " 

"  Follow  me,"  cried  Monday,  still  imitating  his  late  wife's 
voice,  as  he  stalked  away. 

The  hapless  Mole  caught  up  a  broom  that  was  near  him, 
and  placing  the  brush  part  under  his  arm  for  a  crutch,  hopped 
after  the  supposed  spirit  as  well  as  he  could,  puffing  and 
grunting  in  much  perturbation  of  mind. 

Monday,  in  his  ghostly  garb,  let  the  way  into  the  garden 
towards  the  tank. 

The  preceptor  followed. 

Hop,  hop,  hop,  hop. 

Up  the  plank  Monday  glided. 

"  I  can't  go  up  there,"  gasped  Mr.  Mole. 

"  You  must.  We,  the  departed  spirits  of  your  loving 
wives,  command  you.  Come  on." 

The  distracted  Mole  paused  for  a  moment. 

One  of  the  spectres  had  sprung  nimbly  across  the  tank, 
and  now  beckoned  him  from  the  other  side. 

"  Come  on,"  he  cried. 

Young  Jack,  who  had  crept  closely  behind  his  tutor,  now 
affixed  a  couple  of  squibs  to  his  collar,  and  ignited  them. 

"  Follow  me,"  commanded  the  spirit. 

At  this  moment,  whizz  went  both  the  squibs. 

With  a  yell  of  terror,  Isaac  Mole,  with  his  broom  and 
wooden  leg,  hopped  up  the  plank. 

Just  as  he  reached  the  end,  both  the  fireworks  exploded 
with  a  loud  bang. 

Up  went  the  plank,  and  head  first  into  the  tank  plunged 
Mole,  with  a  shriek  and  a  splash,  where  he  lay  floundering 
and  imbibing  the  liquid  element,  fully  convinced  his  last 
hour  was  come. 

"  Hallo  !  hallo  !  What's  the  matter  here  ? "  cried  young 
Jack,  in  a  tone  of  surprise,  as  though  he  had  just  reached 
the  spot. 

"  Who  is  it  ? "  he  asked,  as  he  looked  over  the  edge  of  the 
tank. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  133 

•*  Oh,  my  dear  Jack,  it's  me.  Save  me,  dear  boy :  I'm 
crowning^"  gasped  the  victim. 

"What,  Mr.  Mole ! "  ejaculated  our  hero.  "  So  it  is,  I 
declare.  Here,  Sunday — Monday,  come  and  help  my 
worthy  tutor." 

Sunday  and  Monday,  who  had  in  the  meantime  removed 
their  ghostly  garments,  and  wiped  the  chalk  from  their  faces, 
came  running  up,  and  speedily  extricated  Mr.  Mole  from 
his  unpleasant  predicament. 

"Oh,  dear  Mr.  Mole,  how  dis  happen  to  you,  sar?"  said 
Monday. 

But  Mr.  Mole  made  no  reply. 

Then,  after  drying  the  worthy  gentleman,  they  put  him  to 
bed. 

He  awoke  next  day,  rather  scared  with  the  terrors  of  the 
preceding  night,  and  declared  he  would  never  sleep  in  the 
haunted  room  again.  But  the  lesson  did  him  some  good,  in- 
asmuch as  he  never  from  that  moment  tasted  another  drop 
of  the  delectable  robnr,  the  spirit  of  tea. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

EV   WHICH   MR.    MOLE   RECEIVES  AN    CTVTTATIOM    TO 
FROM   TWO   ILLUSTRIOUS   CHIXESE, 

"Hi,  Sunday!     Monday!" 

"What  you  want,  Massa  Jack?  " 

"  I've  just  got  a  splendid  idea." 

"Hah  yon  though  ?  Keep  it  den,  Massa  Jack,  you  may 
want  it  some  day." 

-  Yes,  but  this  is  first-rate,  and  will  do  for  Mole" 

"What  is  it?" 

The  eyes  of  the  niggers  glistened  at  the  prospect. 

«  Am  it  as  big  a  lark  as  de  ghosts  ob  MassaMokfs  wives, 
Massa  Jack  ?  ~  they  asked. 

'-Quite  as  big,"  returned  our  hero  with  a  grin.  " I  don't 
know  whether  it  isn't  bigger,  if  any  thing,  only  it's  of  a  dif- 
ferent kind." 

"Tefl  us  what  it  is,  please,"  entreated  the  darkies, 
ri-tr.Y. 

"Well  this  is  it.  You  remember  some  time  ago  Mr.  Mole 
painting  both  your  f  aces  on  one  side." 


134  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  Golly,  yes ;  um  remember  dat,  puffecly,"  responded  the 
niggers,  with  a  somewhat  rueful  grin  ;  "  urn  nebber  forget  it, 
um  got  de  glue  in  um  wool  now  ;  it  nebber  cum  got  out  of 
dis  child's  hair." 

"  Well,  then,  Mr.  Mole  painted  and  put  glue  on  your  hair 
for  his  amusement." 

"  S'pose  him  did." 

"  And  now  I  want  you  to  paint  yourselves  for  your 
own." 

At  this  proposition  Sunday  scratched  his  woolly  head,  and 
looked  inquiringly  at  his  comrade. 

Monday  also  looked  in  a  similar  manner  at  him,  and  per- 
formed a  similar  operation. 

"  Excuse  me.  Massa  Jack,"  said  the  former  ;  "  dis  child 
don't  exactly  see  de  'musement  ob  painting  him  face." 

"  No  more  do  I,  neider,"  joined  in  Monday  ;  "  ft  took  all 
de  skin  off  him  countin'  house  de  last  time  um  washed  it 
off." 

Young  Jack  laughed. 

"You  wouldn't  have  to  use  oil  colour  this  time,"  he  said ; 
"  it  would  come  off  easily  enough." 

M  Well,  but  what  de  good  ob  it  ? "  asked  the  darkies. 

*"  As  I  told  you,  to  play  Mr.  Mole  a  trick." 

•"  What  trick-?  " 

""  I  want  you  to  paint  your  faces,  and  put  on  the  dresses 
of  two  of  the  native  Chinese." 

"  Iss,  Massa  Jack." 

"  Then  you'll  come  and  present  yourselves  at  the  gate  of 
Mr.  Mole's  domicile,  and  desire  to  see  him." 

"  Iss ;  and  what  den  ?  " 

"  You  know  what  a  conceited  old  fellow  my  tutor  is." 

"  Dat  berry  true,  Massa  Jack;  him  don't 'tink  small  beer 
ob  himself." 

"  Well,  you'll  give  yourselves  out  to  be  two  people  of  con- 
sequence— two  mandarins." 

"  Ah,  yes  ;  two  mannikins." 

"  No,  no  ;  mandarins." 

"  Beg  him  pardon,  mandarins  ;  and  what  we  do  den  ? " 

"  You'll  make  out  that  the  fame  of  Mr.  Isaac  Mole  has 
reached  you,  and  that  you  have  come  to  feast  your  eyes 
upon  that  wonderful  individual." 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  we  understand  dat." 

"  Well,  then,  you  know  you  can  invite  him  to  dinner." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  135 

"  Where  we  get  de  dinner,  Massa  Jack  ? "  inquired  the 
the  niggers  in  one  breath. 

"  There'll  be  none,  of  course.  Don't  you  see  ?  You'll  ask 
Mr.  Mole  to  visit  you  at  an  imaginary  place,  to  feast  upon  a 
phantom  dinner." 

"  Ha,  ha  ?  golly,  dat  good  !  "  grinned  the  darkies  : 
"  Massa  Mole  come  find  no  house,  no  grub,  no  rum,  no  no- 
think." 

"  Exactly." 

"  But  he  not  take  us  for  Chinese,"  remarked  Monday 
doubtfully. 

"  I  shall  disguise  you."  returned  Jack. 

"  What  we  do  for  pigtails  ! "  inquired  Sunday. 

"  I'll  manage  all  that,"  said  our  hero. 

**  But,  Massa  Jack,"  exclaimed  Sunday,  all  of  a  sudden 
looking  very  blank,  "  dere  one  drefful  licker." 

"  What's  that  ?  " 

"  Why,  we  not  able  to  speak  a  word  Chinese," 

"  Never  mind,  use  any  crack-jaw  words  you  think  of  just 
to  start  with.  He'll  never  know  the  difference,  and  then 
he'll  be  very  to  find  that  you  speak  English." 

"  All  right,  Massa  Jack,"  exclaimed  Monday  and  Sunday. 

It  took  all  the  rest  of  the  day  to  get  the  native  costumes 
and  sundry  necessary  properties  from  Chang's  stores. 

Our  hero  having  arranged  these  preliminary  matters,  he 
gave  his  sable  pupils  a  good  drilling. 

Sunday  and  Monday  proved  apt  scholars,  and  before 
they  retired  for  the  night,  young  Jack  had  taught  them  to 
perform  their  kotou*  in  a  most  perfect  and  natural  manner. 
****** 

The  worthy  Isaac  was  shaving  himself  the  next  morning 
when  his  hopeful  pupil  entered  the  room  in  a  well-assumed 
state  of  excitement. 

"Oh,  I'm  so  glad  you're  up,"  said  the  latter,  eagerly, 
"  for  two  Chinese  gentlemen  are  awaiting  to  see  you." 

"Two  Chinese  gentlemen!"  echoed  Mr.  Mole,  opening 
his  eyes  widely. 

"  Yes  ;  and  they  seem  to  me  to  be  of  high  rank." 

"  High  rank !  "'  almost  gasped  Mr.  Mole,  becoming  at 
once  nervously  evcited. 

"Yes,  and  I  fancy  it's  something  particular,  they  seemed 

*  A  Chinese  mode  of  salutation,  in  which  the  visitor  prostrates  him- 
self, and  touches  the  ground  with  his  forehead  nine  times. 


136  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

so  anxious  to  see  you.  I  wouldn't  disappoint  them,  sir. 
You'd  better  get  dressed  as  quickly  as  possible." 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  I  will,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 

And  then  in  his  agitation  he  plunged  into  a  series  of  the 
wildest  extravagances. 

He  put  on  his  trousers  the  wrong  way,  and  tried  to 
button  his  waistcoat  up  his  back. 

He  combed  his  hair  with  the  brush. 

He  brushed  his  hair  with  the  comb. 

His  wooden  legs  also  gave  him  a  great  deal  of  trouble, 
refusing  obstinately  to  allow  themselves  to  be  screwed  into 
their  sockets. 

At  length,  however,  with  Jack's  assistance,  his  toilet  was 
finished. 

On  entering,  he  perceived  two  splendid-looking  Chinese. 

Their  complexions  were  of  a  hue  something  between 
yellow  ochre  and  coffee  grits. 

They  had  closely-shaven  heads,  and  magnificent  pigtails. 

Not  the  least  suspicion  of  any  trick  crossed  Mole's  imag- 
ination. He  bowed  his  head  and  placed  his  hands  to  his 
forehead  in  token  of  respect. 

The  strangers  returned  his  salutation,  and  Monday  ex- 
claimed, in  very  queer  Chinese — 

"  Hoon,  tsing,  tsing  !  (Are  you  well  ?  Hail !  hail ! )  " 

"  Delighted  to  see  you,  gentlemen,"  answered  Mr.  Mole. 
"  Pray,  may  I  request  to  know  to  what  I  am  indebted  for  the 
honour  of  this  visit  ?  " 

"  We  hear  much  talkee  of  you,  Misser  Mole,"  replied 
Sunday,  condescendingly. 

"  Yes,"  joined  in  Monday,  "  dey  say  you  very  learned 
man — you  got  great  lot  of  knowledge  in  your  head." 

The  erudite  Isaac,  feeling  intensely  flattered,  rose  and 
bowed,  till  he  almost  dipped  his  nose  in  his  tea  cup. 

"  I  trust,  gentlemen,"  he  replied,  "  I  may  say,  without 
boasting,  I  do  know  a  thing  or  two." 

"  A  thing  or  two  ?  "  joined  in  young  Jack.  "  He  knows 
every  thing  there  is  to  be  known,  gentlemen,  and  lots  more 
besides." 

"  Yah  !  yah  ! "  exclaimed  the  Chinese.  "  He  look  so, 
and  dat  is  what  bring  me  and  my  broder  here." 

"  Oh,  you  are  brothers  then  !  "  said  Mr.  Mole. 

"  Yah  !  "  replied  Sunday.     "  My  name  is  Chow-chow." 

"  And  mine,  Chum-chum,"  joined  in  Monday. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  137 

M  Very  pretty  names,  too,"  remarked  our  hero  to  himself, 
with  a  quiet  grin,  "  especially  Chum-chum." 

"  Can  I  be  of  any  service  to  you,  gentlemen,  in  a 
scientific  capacity  ?  "  inquired  Mole. 

"  No,  no,  tankee,  Misser  Mole,"  replied  Chow-chow ;  "  my 
broder  and  myself  not  talkee  much  Inglese." 

"  Nor  can  I  pretend  to  talkee  much  Chinese,"  returned 
Mr.  Mole,  imitating  their  broken  English  out  of  compliment. 

A  few  more  puffs  of  their  pipes,  and  then  the  tutor  said — 

"  I  presume  gentlemen,  you  had  some  motive  in  favour- 
ing me  with  this  visit  ?  " 

"  Oh.  yah,  yah ! "  returned  the  gentlemen ;  "  we  came 
here  to  invite  you  to  dinner  with  us." 

"  To  dinner  !  "  echoed  Mr.  Mole,  his  countenance  glow- 
ing with  gratified  surprise. 

"  Yes,  Misser  Mole ;  M  you  will  favour  us  with  the  illum- 
ination of  vour  presence." 

The  gratified  Mole  made  instantly  a  willing  offer  of  him- 
self. 

"  You  will  come  then  ? "  they  said. 

"  Undoubtedly,"  exclaimed  Isaac,  glowingly. 

"  So  will  I  if  you  ask  me,"  joined  in  young  Jack. 

"  Ah,  yes ;  so  you  shall,"  said  the  good-natured  Chinese. 
"  S'pose  you  Misser  Mole's  son,  eh  ? " 

"  Oh.  no,"  Jack  replied  ;  "  I'm  not  a  Mole,  I'm  a  Hark- 
away." 

"Oh,  indeed;  Hark'way." 

"Of  course  you've  heard  of  the  Harkaways  in  the 
History  of  England,  haven't  you  ?  " 

"  You  mean  Jack  Harkaway,  eh  ?  ** 

"  That's  the  ticket,"  returned  our  hero,  briskly ;  "  there's 
dad  and  me,  old  Jack  and  young  Jack,  two  especial  cele- 
brities, of  the  reign  of  her  gracious  majesty  Queen  Victoria, 
of  the  Boys  of  England." 

Messieurs  Chow-chow  and  Chum-chum  laughed  heartily 
at  our  hero's  free-and-easy  manner,  and  insisted  on  his 
making  one  of  the  party. 

"  Mind  you  be  sure  come  to  dinner,  Misser  Young  Jack 
Boy  of  England  wid  Misser  Mole,"  they  said. 

"  Make  yourselves  perfectly  easy,  gentlemen.**  Jack  re- 
plied ;  "  I'll  be  there." 

"  But  where  are  we  to  come  to  ? "  asked  Tsaac  Mole, 
"  and  at  what  hour  ?  " 


1 38  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Chow-chow  drew  from  his  vest  a  crimson  envelope  about 
a  foot  long,  and  presented  it  with  much  form  to  Mole. 

"  You'll  find  directions  as  to  time  and  place  enclosed,"  he 
said. 

No  sooner  were  they  gone  than  Mr.  Mole,  on  the  tiptoe 
of  curiosity,  tore  open  the  crimson  envelope. 

Its  contents,  which  were  fortunately  written  in  English, 
were  as  follows — 

"  Chow-chow  and  his  brother  Chum-chum  to  the  Great 
Mole. 

"  Expected  25th  day,  6  o'clock,  at  the  Abode  of  Joy,  in 
the  Garden  of  Sweet  perfumes.  Drink  wine — drink  tea — 
rum  if  liked — smoke  tobacco — eat  every  thing  nice. 

"  CHOW-CHOW — CHUM-CHUM. 
"  (With  compliments)." 

Added  in  pencil — 

"  Misser  Young  Jack  Harkaway  expected  very  much." 

Mole  carefully  perused  this  document. 

"You  see,  my  dear  boy,"  he  remarked  grandly  to  Jack  ; 
"great  men  cannot  be  concealed." 

Jack  read  the  note  through. 

"  No  more  can  great  boys ;  in  fact,  it  seems  to  me  the 
boys  have  the  best  of  it,  for  I  read  here,  Mr.  Mole  is  only 
'expected,'  whilst  'Misser  Young  Jack  Harkaway'  is  ex- 
pected very  much." 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

IN  WHICH  AN  EXTRAORDINARY  MISTAKE  OCCURS,  WHICH  IN- 
TRODUCES MR.  MOLE  AND  OUR  HERO  INTO  THE  ELITE  OF 
CHINESE  SOCIETY. 

"  IT  is  very  evident,"  remarked  Mr.  Mole,  "  that  these 
gentlemen  are  persons  of  distinction.  I  suppose  they  are 
attached  to  the  court  of  his  Celestial  Majesty  ? " 

"  They  belong  to  the  privy  council,"  Jack  informed 
him. 

"  Do  they,  though  ? " 

"  Yes,"  continued  young  Harkaway,  "  each  one  sits  at  the 
head  of  a  board,  and  his  word  is  law." 


ADVENTURES  IX  CHINA. 


'39 


"  Indeed,"  said  Mole,  with  surprise. 

**  What  a  highly-connected  set  of  people  we  Ve  got  amongst 
us  all  of  a  sudden." 

"  Rather,"  said  young  Jack. 

"  What  costume  ought  I  to  wear  at  this  dinner-party  ?  " 
returned  Mr.  Mole. 

Young  Jack  shut  one  eye,  and  appeared  for  a  few  moments 
be  to  buried  in  profound 'thought. 

At  length  he  said — 

"  Full  military  costume." 

"  Full  military  costume.  Why  so?"  asked  Mole.  "Be- 
came; you  see;  I  have  nothing  whatever  in  the  shape  of  mili- 
tary attire.7' 

"  Oh,  that  needn't  stand  in  the  way,"  said  his  pupil ;  **  I 
think  1  can  get  you  anything  you  require  in  the  way  of  regi- 
mentals.7' 

"  But  why  should  I  wear  regimentals  ?  "  asked  the  tutor. 
u  I  do  not  belong  to  the  army." 

"  But  I  think  I  have  heard  you  say  you  had  relatives  in 
the  Volunteen  ?" 

"  Quite  right,  I  have." 

"  Very  well,  then,  that's  quite  sufficient  to  entitle  you  to  a 
military  uniform,"  said  young  Jack,  positively. 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  Certainly." 

The  high-minded  Mole  was  struck  with  the  words  of  his 
youthful  counsellor. 

His  personal  vanity  also  was  tickled,  and  he  replied — 

"  Your  remarks  are  very  sensible,  highly  so  ;  and  far 
beyond  your  years." 

I  am  inclined  to  think  with  you  that  a  uniform  would  be 
perhaps  the  most  suitable  costume  I  could  adopt." 

"Very  well  then  ;  111  undertake  to  get  you  your  outfit," 
continued  his  pupil. 

"  I'm  very  much  obliged  to  you,"  returned  Mole,  "  very 
much  indeed." 

"  Don't  mention  it ;  it's  always  a  pleasure  to  oblige  a 
celebrated  man  like  you." 

"  Noble  boy,"  said  Mole. 

At  about  four  o'clock  Jack  returned  loaded  with  the  neces- 
sary habiliments. 

The  eyes  of  the  preceptor  glistened  as  he  looked  at  the 
gorgeous  all  ire. 


I40  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Certainly  the  coat  was  several  sizes  too  large,  having  been 
made  for  a  stout  man. 

Whilst  the  trousers  were  not  long  enough  by  many  inches, 
the  original  wearer  having  been  short. 

A  long  sword  dangled  at  his  side,  and  a  towering  cocked 
hat  with  a  white  feather  ornamented  his  head. 

All  being  ready,  the  tutor,  accompanied  by  his  pupil,  left 
the  house. 

At  the  gate,  to  his  great  astonishment,  he  found  in  attend- 
ance, the  entire  body  of  Chinese  labourers. 

Of  these,  some  carried  flags,  some  coloured  lanterns. 

Whilst  by  way  of  music,  our  hero  had  thoughtfully  provided 
a  gong,  a  bell,  a  drum,  and  a  pair  of  cymbals. 

Isaac  Mole  was  electrified. 

"This  is  extraordinary!"  he  ejaculated;  "and  you  ar- 
ranged all  this,  did  you  ?  " 

"  I  did,"  replied  young  Jack  modestly,  "  but  it  was  quit, 
necessary." 

"  I  believe  you're  right,  my  dear  boy,  quite  right." 

"  Suppose   we  start  then  ?  "  suggested  Jack  to  Mr.  Molw 

"  I'm  quite  ready,"  said  Mole. 

On  each  side  of  Mole,  as  a  guard  of  honour,  walked  Sun- 
day and  Monday,  who  had  resumed  their  proper  appear 
ance,  and  now  accompanied  the  cortege. 

In  front  waved  the  flags. 

Behind  dangled  the  lanterns. 

"  Now  then,"  shouted  young  Jack,  "  play  up,  musicians, 
and  forward  to  the  '  Abode  of  Joy  in  the  Garden  of  Sweet 
Perfumes.'  " 

The  gong  sounded,  the  bell  rang,  the  cymbals  clashed,  the 
retainers  shouted,  and  away  went  the  procession. 

Through  the  town  and  round  the  outskirts,  collecting  crowds 
of  gazers  as  they  passed  along. 

But  alas,  without  arriving  at  their  place  of  destination. 

No  one  seemed  to  know  any  thing  of  the  locality  of  the 
blissful  spot. 

In  the  meantime  the  hours  flew  by. 

Mr.  Mole  had  got  awfully  hungry. 

"There  must  be  some  mistake,"  suggested  Mr.  Mole. 
"  Are  you  sure  you  have  the  right  address  ? "  he  asked  of  his 
pupil. 

"  Positive,"  answered  the  latter. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  14.1 

"  Dessay  we  find  it  by  and  by,  Massa  Mole,  if  you  hab 
patience,""  suggested  Monday. 

•*  But  I'm  starving,"  growled  Mole. 

Young  Jack  called  out  to  the  men  with  the  '••• •  — 

"Light  up,  you  buffers  ! " 

It  was  now  getting  dusk,  and  in  a  few  seconds  the  light 
of  a  score  of  coloured  lanterns  illuminated  the  road. 

«  It  looks  imposing,  doesn't  it  ?"  exclaimed  Jack.  And 
then  he  shouted — 

"  Forward  ! " 

Again  they  moved  on,  when  suddenly  there  was  a  great 


"What's  the  matter  ?"  inquired  Mr.  Mole. 

"  I  think  we've  got  to  the  Garden  of  Sweet 
last,"  returned  our  hero. 

"  I'm  inclined  to  think  so  myself,"  said  the  tutor  ;  "and 
there's  a  lovely  smell  of  cooking." 

"WeU,wedderkde  "bode  ob  joy  or  not,  I  rink  k  m  good 
plan  to  stop  here,"  Sunday  suggested  :  "p'raps  gk  some 

A  crowd  of  domestics  appeared,  and  a  Chinese  gentleman, 
richly  dressed,  and  as  round  as  a  tub,  MINI  liiiiiijiiifcllmiqEjh 
the  throng. 

•'Ah,  my  dear  major-general,  you  come  at  last?"  he 
exclaimed,  eagerly. 

Isaac  Mole  gazed  hopelessly  at  the  portly  host,  and  ejaco- 


Major-generaL    What  does  he  mean  ?" 

"Why,  he  takes  you  for  a  major-generat  of  course,"  hastily 
whispered  his  pnpfl  ;  "  and  no  wonder,  yon  look  like  one." 

The  Chinese  gentleman  went  on  very  anxiously  — 

•He  fraid  your  excellency  no  come'at  alL" 

"  The  fact  is,  your  eminence,  "  replied  our  hero,  -  the  gov- 
ernor lost  his  way,  or  we  should  have  been  here  long  ago.7* 

"  Ah.  I  see  ;  but  never  mind,  the  dinner  wait  for  you.** 

Isaac  Mole  was  hoisted  out  in  no  time. 

Young  Jack  sprang  nimbly  from  his  seat. 

-  Ill  have  my  dinner  if  I  can,  anyhow,"  thought  our  hero  ; 
»  I  shall  be  ready  for  any  thing  after  that." 

"The  major  has  come  at  last,  my  dear  friend  !"  said  the 
worthy  host  to  those  assembled;  "let  me  have  the  honour  to 
to  you  his  excellency  the  British  governor,  Major- 


present 
Genenl 


1 42  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

Mole  was  completely  floored  at  the  unexpected  title  he  had 
received. 

The  great  man  dropped  into  the  seat  nearest  at  hand. 

Unfortunately  as  he  sat  down,  his  wooden  leg  stuck  up,  and 
coming  in  contact  with  a  tea  tray  which  one  of  the  servants 
was  about  to  hand  to  him,  it  sent  tray  and  tea  cups  flying  in 
all  directions. 

The  horror  and  confusion  of  the  embarrassed  tutor  was 
indescribable. 

At  length,  however,  the  excitement  caused  by  the  accident 
subsided. 

The  tea  being  finished,  dinner  began  in  earnest. 

The  young  Chinese  gentlemen  seated  near  Mole  and  Jack 
became  more  and  more  friendly  and  convivial. 

They  pointed  out  to  them  several  choice  dishes  of  exquisite 
flavour. 

"  You  must  taste  little  of  this,"  they  said,  helping  their 
companions  to  some  fresh  luxuries. 

"  Upon  my  honour,  I  can't  stand  any  more,"  protested 
Jack  with  a  shudder ;  "  I've  had  about  three  times  as  much 
as  I  ought." 

"  So  have  I,"  admitted  Mr.  Mole,  pressing  his  hand 
upon  his  stomach.  "  I  am  sorry  to  be  disobliging,  but 
really  I  feel  if  I  were  to  eat  another  mouthful,  I  should 
burst." 

"Oh,  no,  no!  "  laughed  the  Chinese  gentlemen,  "no  burst 
with  dis  meat.  It  too  tender." 

"  Pray  what  do  you  call  this  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Mole  with 
some  curiosity. 

"Dis?  Puppy  dog,"  returned  the  gentleman,  smacking 
his  lips  enthusiastically. 

"  Puppy  dog  !  "  gasped  the  tutor,  clapping  both  hands  over 
his  mouth  and  shuddering  violently. 

"  Yes,  indeed  ;  it  great  luxury." 

"  And  what's  that  ?  "  asked  Jack,  pointing  to  a  dish  from 
which  he  had  been  eating. 

"  Dat  is  little  pussy-cat,  what  you  call — kitten." 

Jack's  stomach  heaved  convulsively  at  this  statement. 

"  I  say,  old  son,"  he  murmured,  "  I'll  take  a  little  brandy, 
neat,  if  you  please." 

The  cordial  was  poured  out,  and  Mr.  Mole  joined  his  pupil 
in  a  "  nip,"  after  which  they  felt  better. 

"  You  eat  extraordinary  things  in  China,"  remarked  our 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  143 

aero ;  "  we  don't  care  about  puppy-dogs  or  pussy-cats  either 
in  England." 

"  Ob,  dey  great  favourite  here,  so  also  are  de  little  rats  and 
mouses." 

"  Rats  and  mouses  ! "  echoed  the  preceptor  and  his  pupil 
simultaneously  ;  "  you  don't  mean  to  sav  YOU  eat  any  thing  so 
horrible?" 

"Oh,  yes  ;  certainly,"  replied  their  friends  with  much  ad- 
miration ;  "  you  eat  dem  just  now  and  say  dey  beautif uL" 

The  eyes  of  Mr.  Mole  and  young  Jack  Harkaway  turned 
up  in  their  heads,  and  they  fell  back  helplessly  in  their  seats. 

"  More  brandy !  quick  I"  gasped  the  former. 

"  Ditto !  ditto ! "  echoed  Jack. 

Again  the  stimulant  was  administered,  when  suddenly  the 
Tartar  came  out  with  a  tremendous — 

"Ho!" 

This  was  immediately  followed  by  a  loud  yell  as  a  couple 
>f  well-kneaded  bread  bullets,  propelled  by  Sunday  and 
Monday,  took  effect  on  his  right  eye  and  his  nose. 

The  missiles  stung  him  awfully,  and  with  a  tremendous 
»ath  (in  the  Tartar  language)  he  sprang  to  his  feet. 

"  What  dat  you  do — you  Inglese— eh  ?  "  he  demanded, 
jooking  fiercely  at  Jack. 

"  Are  you  addressing  yourself  to  me  ?  "  inquired  young 
fack  coolly,  as  he  quietly  untwisted  the  wire  from  the'  cork 
»f  the  champagne  bottle  which  he  held  between  his  knees. 

"  Yah  !  to  you,  sah  ! "  returned  the  furious  Tartar.  "  What 
de  debbil  you  mean  to  shoot  me  in  my  eye — eh  ?  Hoh  1 " 

He  stroked  his  chin  and  glared  at  our  hero  like  a  nend. 

"  I  didn't  shoot  you  in  your  eye,"  Jack  replied ;  "  you're 
dreaming.  Sit  down  and  don't  make  a  fool  of  yourself.*' 

-  I  shall  not  sit  down,  sah !  You  shall  ask  my  pardon  ! 
Hoh !  hoh !  yes,  you  shall ! " 

"  111  see  you  blowed  first.'' 

"You  won't,  eh?" 
.  "  I  won't ! " 

"  Hoh,  hoh  !  then  I  shall " 

Here  the  fierce  being  made  a  desperate  attempt  to  throw 
himself  across  the  table  and  grasp  his  juvenile  defier. 

But,  at  that  moment,  Jack,  who  had  unfastened  the  wire 
and  given  the  bottle  a  good  shake,  removed  his  thumb  from 
the  cork. 

A  loud  bang  and  a  fizz  was  heard,  and  the  irate  Mongo- 


144  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOW'S 

lian  started  up,  drenched  with  champagne,  and  with  the  cork 
half-way  down  his  throat. 

"  I  shall  kill  you !  "  he  raved,  as  he  drew  his  sword  and 
sprang  upon  the  table. 

As  the  frantic  Tartar  leapt  down  upon  Mole,  the  gallant 
Isaac,  with  great  dexterity,  hoisted  his  wooden  leg  in  the  air, 
so  that  the  ferocious  Mongol  received  the  round  knob  exactly 
in  the  pit  of  his  stomach. 

"  Hoh  ! "  was  the  only  remark  he  made,  as  he  doubled 
up  and  fell  with  a  crash  to  the  ground,  from  whence  he  was 
quickly  picked  up  and  carried  from  the  apartment. 

Peace  being  restored,  the  worthy  Mole  began  to  get  ex- 
ceedingly jolly. 

"  You're — glor'us  people  ! — hie — very  glor'us  !  "  he  ex- 
claimed. "  China's  great  nation  ! — hie — very  great ! 

"  I  respect  you  all !  "  he  continued,  "  the  puppy-dogs  and 
pussy-cats  excepted — not  forgetting  the  rats  and  mouses — 
which,  as  a  subject  of  Great  Britain,  I  decidedly  object  to. 
Nevertheless,  you're  a  great  nation,  and  I  respect  you  ;  I 
respect  you  all !  I  respect  his  celestial  majesty  the  emperor 
— good  luck  to  him,  and  may  he  never  want  a  teapot 

"  Three  cheers  for  the  emperor !  " 

"  Hip — hip — hip — hurrah  !  " 

The  worthy  Mole,  having  drunk  a  bumper  of  champagne 
in  honour  of  his  celestial  majesty,  found  himself  becoming 
more  and  more  disposed  to  conviviality,  and  volunteered  to 
sing  a  song. 

"  With  your  permission  I  will  sing  a  few  lines  composed 
on  the  spot,  expressly  in  honour  of  this  memorable  occasion." 

A  murmur  of  applause  ran  through  the  festive  throng. 

And  Isaac  Mole,  clearing  his  throat,  commenced — 

"  If  you  happy  wish  to  be, 

Go  to  China! 
If  you'd  taste  a  cup  of  tea, 

Go  to  China ! 
If  a  dinner  you  would  eat, 
I  can  promise  you  a  treat, 

If  you  go  to  China! 
Puppy  dogs,  and  kittens  too, 
Rats  and  mice  a  sav'ry  stew, 

JCvery  day  in  China! 
/oily  dogs  are  Chinamen, 
No  other  nation  feeds  like  them 

Who  live  in  China ! 


ADVENTURES  IX  CIUXA.  145 

They  beat  all  other  countries  hollow, 

For  strength  of  head,  and  length  of  swallow — 

Go  to  China! 
Then  hurrah  for  China ! 
Three  cheers  for  China ! 
If  you  want  to  get  fat, 
Hurry  over  to  China. 

Chorus — If  you  want  to  get  fat, 
Hurry  over  to  China !  " 

This  vocal  effusion  was  received  with  deafening  applause. 

Pipes,  tea,  and  liqueurs,  were  again  handed  round. 

Isaac  Mole  was  in  the  seventh  heaven  of  ecstasy. 

"  This  is — hie — jolly,  very  jol — ly,  my  dear  boy,"  he  said 
to  his  pupil. 

"  Couldn't  be  jollier,  I  think." 

"  There's  only  one  thing  surprises  me." 

"  What's  that  ? " 

"  That  we  haven't  seen  any  thing  of  the  two  gentlemen 
who  invited  us." 

"  It  is  rather  strange,  certainly." 

At  this  moment  the  host  drew  near. 

"  I  hope  your  excellency  enjoy  yourself,"  he  said. 

"  Never  better,  my  dear  boy,"  returned  the  preceptor,  fa- 
miliarly ;  "  but  I  miss  two  very  particular  members  of  your 
family." 

The  host  looked  at  him  in  surprise. 

"  What  two  you  miss  ?  " 

"  Chow-chow,  and  Chum-chum." 

The  eyebrows  of  his  entertainer  went  up  with  a  jerk. 

"  I  know  nothing  of  Chow-chow  and  Chum-chum." 

"  Oh,  gammon  !  "  returned  Mr.  Mole,  poking  him  sharply 
in  the  ribs  ;  "  that  tale  won't  do.  You're  Chow-chow's  uncle, 
you  know  you  are." 

"  I  ?  "  ejaculated  the  master  of  the  house. 

"  Yes,  of  course,"  insisted  Mr.  Mole ;  "  you  belong  to  the 
Hung- poo." 

"  What  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean  what  I  say." 

"  You're  quite  wrong." 

"  Of  course  he  is,"  joined  in  Jack ;  "  the  idea  of  taking 
you  for  Chow-chow's  uncle,  when  anyone  can  see  you're 
Chum-chum's  grandfather." 

"  I  tell  you,"  almost  shrieked  the  host,  "  I  know  neither 
Chow-chow  nor  Chum-chum." 


1 46  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOJV'S 

11  Then  who  the  deuce  are  you  ? " 

"  I  am  Commissioner  Wang-ki." 

"  Oh,"  stammered  Mole,  "  Commissioner  Wang-ki,  are 
you  ? " 

The  worthy  Mole,  who  found  considerable  difficulty  in 
keeping  his  perpendicular,  was  just  about  to  depart,  when 
suddenly  a  dispatch  arrived  from  the  emperor. 

Commissioner  Wang-ki  came  hurrying  to  him. 

"  His  celestial  majesty  has  heard  that  your  excellency  is 
here,"  he  said,  "  and  desires  your  immediate  presence  at  his 
palace." 

"  Bother  his  celestial  majesty,"  growled  Mole  ;  "  I'm  tired 
to  death  ;  I  can't  go  to-night." 

Commissioner  Wang-ki  looked  aghast  at  this  daring  ob- 
jection, then  said — 

"  You  must  go." 

Once  more  the  gong  sounded. 

Mr.  Mole  was,  however,  unconscious  of  any  thing  ;  he  had 
fallen  fast  asleep. 

Young  Jack,  at  first  awake,  gradually  yielded  to  the  motion 
of  the  palanquin,  and  in  a  very  short  time  he  was  also  wrapped 
in  the  arms  of  Morpheus. 

Master  and  pupil  slumbered  together. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

IN  WHICH  THE  LITTLE  MISTAKE  IS  DISCOVERED,  AND  LEADS  TO 
AN  AWFUL  ROW — HOW  IT   ENDED. 

THE  repose  of  the  sleepers  was  at  length  disturbed. 

"  Hoh ! " 

The  occupants  of  the  palanquin  roused  themselves  and 
looked  out. 

Close  alongside  was  the  formidable  Tartar,  stroking  his 
moustache  and  looking  as  black  as  a  thundercloud. 

"  Dear  me  !  is  that  you  ?  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  confusedly. 

"  Yah  !  it  is  me.     Hoh,  hoh,  yes." 

"  Ah  !  I  remember  you  now,"  said  the  tutor. 

"  I  remember  you,  too,"  returned  the  fierce  individual,  with 
a  diabolical  grin ;  "  you  poke  me  with  your  leg  in  my 
stomach — hoh,  hoh  !  yes." 


ADVEXJC&ES  IX  CHINA-  147 


-  And  yon  did  not  seen  to  tike  it,  bat  mint  do  you 
nom,MT.Aoh-boh?- 

-I  wait  nothing 
darkly.     ffi 
Jthe  emperor.  ' 

This  recalled  the  faculties  of  die  somemhat  bewildered 
Isaac. 

-  Ob,   ah,  troe  !  **    he  mmmmed  :   "  I  was  summoned 
die    emeiM,  so  I   mas.       Hare    me    arrived  at  the 


-Yah?  this  is  the  palace.     Hob,  hob, yes." 

"  Stop  diat  bo-hoing,  then,  and  shorn  us  d&e  may  in,"  said 

•I  sbal  annonnce  yon  tmo  Ingkse  first,"  said  Ac  Tartar 
^Kn^x  midi  a  scomL  ~  This  may.9 

At  die  entrance  of  tbe  palace  stood  several  of  die  imperial 
body  guard. 

-  Xom.  diea/"  said  die  Tartar,  abrnpdy, "  bom  am  I  So 

^TdOhis  imperial  effidgence  that  Mr.  I " 

**  Yoofre  r«»yii»ig  you  re  a  major-general,"  said  Jack. 
"Dear  me!!  so  I  am,"  mmnmed  Mr.  Mote ;  "and  I've 


-Was  it  Doormat?"  snggested  oar  hero. 

-I— Idiinknot." 

^Doorscraper?  Major-General  Doorscraper  sounds  mdD.x 

"No,  I  donrtt  think  it  mas  dial." 

"No." 

tt  Fre  got  it,"  ~*<**i-~A  Jack;  n  it  was  Taiainmiil.1 

-  So  it  mas,"  cried  Mr.  Mole. 

At  diis  jianliin,  die  voice  of  die  Ta 


"Major-General  Brasspopper m 

•No,  Brassknocker,"  said  jmmg  Jack, 


-Knocker.     And  mho  are  you  sopposed  to  be?"  asked 

r.  Mole,  of  his  pnpiL 

""Oh,rm  your  prirate  sccicUn,  Mr.  Jack  Harkamay, 

"  Yon  mffl  have  die  goodness  to  annoence  Major-General 


1 48  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

Brassknocker  and  his  private  secretary,  Mr.  Jack  Harkaway, 
junior." 

"  Hoh  !  "  ejaculated  the  Tartar,  as  he  stroked  his  chin 
and  disappeared. 

Presently  he  returned. 

"  Follow  me,"  he  said,  abruptly. 

"  Now  then,  pull  yourself  together,"  counselled  Jack  to  his 
tutor,  as  they  went  along,  "  and  if  you  can,  put  a  little  steam 
into  your  wooden  leg.  But  whatever  you  do,  don't  forget 
your  kotow,  when  you  go  into  the  emperor's  presence." 

"  Kotow  ! "  echoed  Mr.  Mole.  "  What  in  the  world's 
that  ?  " 

"  It's  a  Chinese  mode  of  salutation." 

"  Well,  but  what  shall  I  have  to  do  ? " 

"  Only  go  down  on  your  marrowbones,  and  touch  the 
ground  with  your  forehead  nine  times." 

"  It  will  be  very  awkward  for  me  to  kneel  with  my  wooden 
leg,  which  has  no  joint,"  remarked  the  preceptor. 

"  Well,  awkward  or  not,  you  must  manage  it  somehow,'' 
said  Jack.  "  But — hush  !  here  we  are." 

The  drapery  was  drawn  aside,  revealing  an  open  door, 
through  which  a  soft,  clear,  mellow  light  was  visible. 

The  Tartar  guide  entered  and  exclaimed  in  sonorous 
accents — 

"  Major-General  Grasshopper,  and  his  private  secretary, 
Mr.  Jack  Barkaway,  junior." 

Mr.  Mole,  making  a  strong  effort  to  steady  himself, 
stumped  forward  in  as  dignified  a  manner  as  possible,  with 
his  cocked  hat  under  his  arm,  and  his  sword  clanking  at  his 
side,  followed  by  our  hero. 

His  majesty  was  very  short  and  very  corpulent,  and  bore 
a  striking  resemblance  to  one  of  those  china  images,  fre- 
quently seen  in  the  windows  of  the  London  tea  shops,  nod- 
ding their  heads  to  the  customers. 

Young  Jack  at  once  prostrated  himself. 

"  Down  with  you,"  he  whispered  to  his  tutor. 

The  anxious  Isaac  contrived  somehow  to  get  on  to  one 
knee,  when  he  commenced  bumping  his  head  on  the  floor  in 
a.  most  energetic  and  loyal  manner. 

It  is  probable  he  would  have  gone  on  at  this  exercise  all 
night  if  young  Jack  had  not  checked  him. 

"  Drop  it !  that'll  do,"  he  said  to  him  in  an  undertone, 
**  or  you'll  be  knocking  a  hole  in  the  floor." 


A0WEXTURES  JA'  CHINA-  149 

His  majesty  waved  his  hand  as  a  token  that  they  should 
-  rz- 
Onr  hero  was  on  his  legs  in  an  ™^ty»t. 

-  Whatever  -shall  I  do?"  groaned  the  hapless  Mole,  the 
drops  of  perspiration  trickling  down  his  nose.     ""  Help  me 

Jack,  grasped  Ins  hannV  and  gave  him  a  vigorous  hoist. 

A  sharp  snap  was  heard. 

-Good  Heaven ! *"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole. 

"What's  the  matter  now?  "inquired  Jack. 

«  My  leg.  my  leg!" 

"Well,  what  of  it?" 

"  It" s  snapped  in  half." 

-  Never  mind,  try  and  stand  up!  lean  on  me." 

Mr  Mole  having  been  hauled  up  to  a  perpendicular 
ticn,  contrived  to  balance  himself  on  his  right  leg.  UK 
_rt  : i  .".  r  "  "  '•  '- ~. -  ~-  -~-~.Lr  ~  r '  ;  _  ; t ~  ~. :  5  _ ~ ~ • : : ~  .7.  ~  ; ~  ". .~. - 

- 1  am  glad  to  see  you  General— a — Starch " 

His  majesty  paused,  having  forgotten  the  name. 
"Collar,  vour  serene •anmeence,""  answered  the  Tartar, 

«k«J.       MK0 


General  SLujJufTKiar,    repeated  Ac  emperoir. 
"  Most  gorgeons  brother  of  the  sun  and  moon,"  cried 
Mole,  -I  fed  myself  dazzled  at  the  honour  of  being  per- 
to 


"Ine  emperor  glanced  towards  our  hero. 

-Who  is  that?"  he  inquired. 

"That  is  my  private  secretary,  yonr  eftdgence/'  replied 
the  tutor,  «  Mr.  Jack  Harkaway,  junior^ 

"Your  royal  highness  has  probably  heard  of  me,"  said 
our  hero,  with  much  animation. 

The  emperor  shook  his  bead. 

"Mo?  That's  strange,"  Jack  continued.  "I  assure 
your  majesty,  my  adventures  round  the  world  are  causing  a 

-Hob,  boh!-  burst  out  the 

-Who  said  "Hob,  boh?' 

**  I  did,  your  fragrant  mightiness,"  answered  the  Mongo- 

with  a  fearful  squint,  and 


150  JACK  HARK  A  IVA  Y  AND  HIS  SOAr'S 

"  Get  out !  " 

The  Tartar  made  a  profound  obeisance,  and  took  himself 
off. 

"  You  spoke  of  your  adventures,"  said  the  emperor. 

"Yes,  your  celestial  eminence,"  replied  Jack,  "published 
weekly  at  the  office,  173,  Fleet  Street,  London,  E.  C." 

The  potentate  turned  to  his  prime  minister. 

"  Hoh,"  he  said,  "  see  that  the  '  Adventures  of  Jack  Hark- 
away  Round  the  World  '  are  ordered  immediately." 

The  emperor  then  spoke  again  to  Mr.  Mole. 

"  You  are  very  thin,  Major  Cartstopper." 

The  major  admitted  the  fact  humbly. 

"  It  is  not  good  to  be  thin,"  the  emperor  continued  ;  "  you 
must  get  fat.  Now  approach." 

"  Don't  leave  me,"  whispered  Mole  to  Jack,  for  he  began  to 
have  some  misgivings  as  to  how  the  interview  might  terminate. 

"  Well,  but  his  effulgence  says  we're  to  approach."  Jack 
replied.  "  Come  on." 

"  It's  impossible  ;  I  can't." 

"  Oh,  yes,  you,  can  ;  try  a  hop." 

"  If  I  do,  off  will  come  my  leg  to  a  certainty." 

The  emperor  yawned  again. 

All  the  mandarins  followed  the  example  of  their  august 
master. 

"  Appproach,"  repeated  his  celestial  majesty. 

"  I  should  be  most  happy,  your  serene  effulgence,"  re- 
turned Mr.  Mole,  pleadingly;  "but  I've  met  with  a  slight 
accident." 

"  What  accident  ?  "  inquired  the  emperor. 

"  Compound  fracture  of  the  leftx  pin,  your  magnificence," 
answered  Jack. 

The  potentate  reflected  for  a  moment  or  so. 

Then,  taking  two  rings  from  his  fingers,  he  sent  them  by 
one  of  the  mandarins. 

"  Accept  them  as  tokens  of  my  friendly  feeling  towards 
the  sovereign  and  country  you  represent.  Now  you  can  go." 

Hurried  footsteps  were  heard  in  the  corridor  at  that 
moment. 

The  formidable  Tartar  once  more  entered  hastily. 

"  Treason  !  "  he  shouted  ;  "  hoh  !  hoh  !  " 

"  Treason  ! "  echoed  his  celestial  majesty,  turning  slightly 
green. 

"  Yes,  your  mightiness." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  15! 

«  Approach,"  said  his  majesty. 

The  Mongolian  hastily  ascended  the  throne  steps,  and 
whispered  to  Us  august  master. 

The  imperial  brow  lowered :  die  imperial  eyes  glanced  sus- 
piciously at  the  representative  of  the  British  constitution  and 
his  private  secretary. 

"  I'm  afraid  we're  bowled  out,  after  all,"  whispered  Jack  to 
Mole. 

-  Goodness  gracious,  I  hope  not,"  exclaimed  Mole. 

"  It's  a  case.  I'm  afraid,"  returned  our  hero ;  -  we  shall  be 
impaled  as  safe  as  nails." 

44  Heaven  forbid,"  groaned  poor  Isaac  Mole. 

To  add  to  his  apprehensions,  the  emperor  at  this  moment 
uttered  a  loud  exclamation. 

"Impostors!  "he  shouted.     "Who  are  you?" 

u  My  name  is  Mole — Isaac  Mole,  instructor  of  youth,  at 
your  majesty's  service,™  faltered  Mole. 

"  And  you  tell  me  just  now,  you  are  Major-General  Baccy- 
Stopper  !  **  then  exclaimed  the  incensed  potentate. 

-  It's  aD  right,  your  high  and  mighty  Cock-o'-Tmmps," 
said  our  hero,  in  a  soothing  and  confidential  tone ;  "  there's 
been  a  slight  mistake,  that's  alL" 

"The  general  has  just  arrived.  Bring  him  before  me, 
instantly,"  cried  the  emperor.  . 

Away  hurried  the  Tartar. 

In  a  few  seconds,  footsteps  were  again  heard  without. 

A  party  of  mandarins  headed  by  Wang-kt  their  late  host, 
came  hurrying  into  the  chamber. 

Amongst  them  was  a  stout,  fierce-looking  Englishman  in 
QBDorro. 

In  an  instant  the  dwelling  of  the  serene  sky  was  turned 
into  a  Babel  of  confusion. 

Everyone  spoke  at  once. 

Nobody  understood  a  word  anyone  had  said. 

At  length  the  emperor  shouted— 

"  Who  are  you  ?  " 

- 1  have  the  honour  to  be  the  English  governor,  Major- 
General  Brassknocker.  I  had  received  an  invitation  to 
dinner  with  this  honourable  member  of  your  majesty's 
government,"  the  general  continued,  pointing  to  the  commis- 
«doner,  "  but  an  accident  on  board  my  vessel  prevented  me 
from  coming  on  shore  till  a  late  hour,  and  then  I  hastened 
to  explain." 


152  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  But  \vho,then,  are  these  miserable  impostors  ? "  demanded 
the  emperor,  eyeing  Mole  and  young  Jack  with  indignant 
sternness. 

"  I  assure  your  majesty "  began  Mole,  earnestly. 

"  How  dare  you  assume  a  name  that  does  not  belong  to 
you  ?  "  demanded  the  celestial  monarch,  fiercely. 

"  How  dare  you  enter  my  house  under  false  pretences,  and 
eat  my  dinner,  eh  ?  "  cried  the  indignant  Wang-ki. 

"  You  asked  us  to  come  in,"  returned  the  preceptor,  "  and 
we  didn't  like  to  make  ourselves  disagreeable." 

"  Certainly  not,"  joined  in  our  hero,  making  a  desperate 
effort  to  set  matters  straight. 

"  You're  a  couple  of  swindlers,"  cried  the  real  General 
Brassknocker. 

"  Swindlers,"  echoed  everybody. 

"  And  he  poke  me  in  the  stomach  with  his  leg ! "  shrieked 
the  ferocious  Tartar,  savagely.  "  Hoh,  hoh  !  yes." 

Jack  felt  strongly  inclined  to  give  him  one  on  the  nose  but 
prudence  restrained  him. 

"  Come,  Jack,"  cried  Mole,  trying  to  put  a  bold  face  on 
the  matter,  "  we  had  better  say  good-night  to  all." 

And  then  he  took  a  hop  towards  the  door. 

"  Stop ! "  shouted  his  celestial  majesty.  There  was  no 
occasion  to  utter  this  mandate. 

At  the  first  hop,  off  dropped  Mr.  Mole's  fractured  limb, 
and  down  went  Mr.  Mole  on  the  ground. 

The  hapless  tutor  was  completely  done. 

"  Seize  them  both,  and  lock  them  up,"  cried  the  emperor ; 
"  to-morrow  they  shall  receive  their  deserved  punishment. 
Away  with  them  !  " 

This  was  a  crisis. 

Jack  did  not  like  the  idea  of  deserting  his  tutor. 

As  these  thoughts  passed  through  his  mind,  several  of  the 
Chinese  guard  pounced  upon  the  helpless  Isaac,  and  hoisted 
him  up  very  unceremoniously,  and  hurried  him  out. 

"  Save  the  pieces,"  he  murmured,  as  he  looked  anxiously 
after  the  fragments  of  his  wooden  leg  as  he  was  borne  away. 

"  I  will,"  cried  our  hero,  as  he  picked  up  the  broken 
stump. 

"  Now  then,  you  boy  Inglese,"  exclaimed  three  of  the 
soldiers  ;  "  you  come  wid  us." 

"  Not  if  I  know  it,"  cried  Jack,  as  he  dashed  in  amongst 
them  with  his  tutor's  wooden  leg.  . 


ADVENTURES  Iff  CHINA.  153 

In  less  time  than  it  takes  to  write  it,  the  imperial  body- 
guard were  ignominiously  scattered. 

The  way  of  escape  was  open. 

Out  Jack  rushed,  brandishing  his  missile  triumphantly. 

In  the  corridor  he  encountered  the  formidable  Tartar. 

"  Stop,  you  boy,"  he  shouted. 

"  I  shan't,  ugly  mug,"  bawled  our  hero,  defiantly,  as  he 
pressed  forward. 

But  the  Mongolian  drew  his  sword,  and  opposed  his 
progress. 

"  You  would  escape,"  he  cried,  as  he  made  a  terrific  slash 
with  his  weapon  :  "  hoh,  hoh,  yes.  Me  not  forgot  the  stiff 
leg  in  the  stomach  and  de  cork  in  my  throat." 

Jack  nimbly  eluded  his  blow,  and  crying  out — 

"Well,  for  a  change,  old  fellow,  take  Mole's  leg  on  yout 
cranium.'* 

And  the  Tartar  received  a  hard  whack  from  Mole's  stump 

"  Hoh  ! "  he  gurgled,  and  down  he  fell  like  a  log. 

Jack  hurried  on  towards  the  entrance,  where  he  saw 
soldiers  waiting  to  intercept  him. 

He  retraced  his  steps,  and  entering  an  apartment,  found  a 
window  open. 

Out  of  this  he  dropped  into  the  garden. 

No  sooner  had  his  feet  touched  the  ground,  than  he  was 
seized  by  two  soldiers. 

In  vain  he  struggled,  the  odds  were  too  great. 

u  Let  me  go,  you  coffee-coloured  rascals,"  he  cried  passion- 
ately. 

"  No.  no ;  we  lock  you  up,  you  Inglese  tief  boy,  and  kill 
you  to-morrow." 

They  commenced  hurrying  him  along,  when  suddenly  the 
sound  of  two  well-known  voices  greeted  his  ears. 

"  Dere  him  are,  dere,  Massa  Jack." 

Looking  up,  to  his  great  joy  he  beheld  the  burly  forms  of 
Sunday  and  Monday. 

The  faithful  fellows,  fearing  some  disaster,  had  lingered  in 
the  garden,  and  now  came  up  just  at  the  right  moment. 

It  took  just  four  blows  from  their  brawny  fists  to  send  the 
imperial  guard  flying,  and  in  less  than  two  minutes  our  hero, 
with  Sunday  and  Monday,  were  scudding  along  the  road 
towards  home. 


154  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

The  next  morning  the  hapless  Isaac  Mole  was  brought  up 
before  Commissioner  Wang-ki,  to  be  tried  for  his  imposture 
of  the  previous  day. 

The  trial  was  very  brief,  and  the  sentence  that  the  tutor 
should  stand  in  the  pillory  for  six  hours. 

After  which  he  was  to  receive  fifty  strokes  of  the  bastinado. 

The  unfortunate  Mole  had  endured  one  hour's  purgatory 
with  his  head  stuck  in  the  distressing  instrument  of  torture, 
and  was  looking  forward  in  dire  anticipation  to  cne  other 
infliction,  when,  to  his  unspeakable  joy,  he  beheld  approach- 
ing, his  pupil,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Harkaway  senior,  Dick 
Harvey,  and  the  red-headed  Major-General  Brassknocker. 

Fortunately  the  general  was  known  to  Harkaway,  and  on 
matters  being  explained,  and  a  slight  tip  of  three  hundred 
dollars  being  handed  over  to  the  Commissioner  Wang-ki  that 
incorruptible  functionary  consented  to  set  his  prisoner  at 
liberty. 

So  ended  this  adventure,  but  so  greatly  did  it  impress 
Mr.  Mole,  that  he  never  again  sang  a  song  in  praise  of  China, 
and  always  shuddered  when  he  spoke  of  a  Chinese  dinner- 
party. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

A  MYSTERIOUS  OCCURRENCE  DELAYS  THE  DEPARTURE  OF  JACK 
HARKAWAY  AND  HIS  FRIENDS  FOR  THE  TREASURE  ISLAND 
IN  THE  GREEK  ARCHIPELAGO. 

THE  suspicions  entertained  by  Mr.  Mole  and  Pike  respect- 
ing Bigamini  were  perfectly  correct. 

He  was  in  league  with  the  Chinese  pirates. 

His  relations  with  the  captain  and  owner  of  the  "  Flowery 
Land  "  were  especially  intimate. 

He  pretended  to  be  a  ship-broker  and  had  an  office  in 
Hong-Kong. 

But  he  did  not  live  there. 

Oh,  no  !  His  domicile  was  a  few  miles,  out  of  the  Chinese 
Treaty  port. 

We  shall  come  to  that  presently. 

Biga-end-ming-ming,  as  he  was  called  in  Hong-Kong,  but 
Bigamini,  as  he  really  was,  had  two  partners  in  his  business. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHIXA.  155 

One  was  a  rascally.  King,  boastful  g  jf  '  n.  wbo  had 
been  in  more  prisons  than  one. 

His  name  was  Dick  Blowhard. 

The  other  was  a  Dutchman,  called  Hans  Schneider. 

He  had  come  from  Holland  to  Smimra,  and.  being  kicked 
out  of  the  Straits  Settlements,  had  gone  on  to  China. 

Birds  of  a  feather  generally  flock  together. 

Bigamiai  had.  fr******  nicked  up  bv  a  *liip  »1far  being  thrown 
over  the  vessel's  side,  in  the  Mediterranean  Sea. 

It  was  gieatei  hick  than  he  was  entitled  to. 

The  ship  was  going  to  China. 

He  served  as  a  deck-hand,  and  worked  his  passage  oat. 

In  Hong-Kong  be  met  with  Dick  Blowhaid  and  Hans 
" 


They  entered  into  business  together  as  receivers  of  the 
goods  stolen  by  the  junk  pirates. 

It  was  their  business  to  pay  a  certain  sum  down,  and  to 
make  as  big  a  market  as  they'could  of  the  articles  brought 
them. 

The  iM-foifriMj  trade  paid  them  very  welL 

Blowhard  and  Schneider  lived  over  die  office  where  they 
pretended  to  trade  as  ship-brokers,  in  Hong-Kong. 


But;  as  we  have  said,  Bigamini  had  a  sepaiale  residence. 

He  was  a  rascal,  a  sneak,  and  a  villain  of  the  worst  type. 

At  the  same  time  be  had  a  certain  amount  of  cleverness 
about  him. 

Or  shall  we  call  it  low  conning? 

Since  he  had  been  in  China,  he  had  made  money,  in  con- 
junction with  his  two  partners. 

The  pirates  with  whom  they  were  in  connection,  were  glad 
enough  to  dispose  of  their  plunder,  when  they  came  into 
port;  for  what  they  could  get  for  it. 

It  had  to  be  sold  at  a  sacrifice. 

BJgarwhri,  Schneider,  and  BZowhard  did  a  capital  liuiim  ••, 

Ever  since  he  left  Naples—  we  mar  say,  long  before—  Biga- 
mini  had  cherished  a  bitter  hatred  for  Jack  Harkaway. 

Not  only  for  him. 

His  enmity  extended  to  young  Jack  aixf  the  famflr  at  large, 
as  wefl  as  to'  their  friends. 

He  had  often  met  Hunston  and  the  pirate  captain. 

They  had  entertained  him  right  royally. 

By  their  instructions  he  had  worked  bard  to  bring  Hark- 
away  and  his  friends  into  their  toils. 


1 56  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  IUS  CON  * 

For  Mr.  Mole  he  entertained  the  greatest  contempt  and 
hatred. 

He  knew  that  he  had  money,  and  wanted  to  get  it,  hence 
his  attacks  on  his  house. 

Mr.  Mole  knew  little  of  the  people  outside  of  his  tea 
plantation. 

As  they  were  not  the  same  race  as  himself,  he  rarely  came 
in  contact  with  his  neighbours. 

If  he  wanted  any  society,  or  the  rest  of  the  party  for  that 
matter,  they  went  to  the  city. 

But,  strange  to  say,  no  less  a  distance  than  five  miles  from 
Mr.  Mole's  house,  lived  Bigamini,  or  Biga-end-ming-ming. 

He  had  utilised  his  dishonest  gains  to  buy  a  tea-garden, 
situated  near  a  small  lake. 

The  sheet  of  water  was  included  in  the  purchase. 

So  was  the  house  of  the  former  proprietor. 

The  Chinese  are  very  fond  of  building  their  houses  on 
piles  driven  into  the  bed  of  a  lake,  or  living  in  boathouses 
moored  on  a  river. 

This  particular  house  that  Bigamini  bought  with  the  tea- 
garden  and  lake  was  erected  with  considerable  skill,  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  from  the  shore  of  the  lake. 

It  was  a  pretty-looking  and  commodious  wooden  (chiefly 
bamboo)  structure. 

The  flooring  was  raised  some  height  above  the  water 
level. 

Of  course  it  could  only  be  reached  by  a  boat. 

This  was  kept  close  to  the  house,  attached  by  a  rope. 

When  Bigamini  left  the  city,  which  was  distant  from  the 
lake  about  six  miles,  he  hired  a  man  to  drive  him. 

Having  deposited  him  at  the  side  of  the  lake,  opposite 
the  house,  he  drove  away 

The  next  day,  if  instructed  to  do  so,  he  would  call  for  him, 
and  take  him  to  Hong- Kong. 

Sometimes  Bigamini  would  stay  in  his  lake  house  for  two 
or  three  days  at  a  time. 

Schneider  and  Blowhard  would  manage  the  business  in 
his  absence. 

There  is  an  old  saying  that  there  is  honesty  among 
thieves. 

They  did  not  cheat  one  another. 

The  tea-garden  was  managed  by  a  superintendent  and 
about  thirty  Chinese,  with  their  families. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  157 

These  people  lived  in  some  huts,  half-a-mile  lower  down 
the  lake. 

They  were  the  servants  of  Bigamini,  and  obeyed  his  orders 
witnout  a  murmur. 

When  Bigamini  had  attempted  to  break  into  Mole's  dwell- 
ing, and  the  detective,  Pike,  had  shot  him,  he  was  slightly 
wounded. 

These  simple  people,  who  were  at  his  beck  and  call,  had 
picked  him  up  and  carried  him  home. 

He  was  not  badly  hurt. 

Still  the  pain  he  suffered  made  him  more  vindictive  than 
before. 

He  vowed  to  have  a  fearful  revenge  for  that  shot  in  the 
leg,  which  disabled  him  for  at  least  a  week. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  such  a  man  as  Bigamini 
lived  alone  in  his  lake  house. 

Not  at  all. 

Forgetting  the  wives  he  had  left  in  Europe,  he  had  lost  no 
time  in  getting  married  again. 

Singular  as  it  may  appear,  he  could  not  keep  out  of  matri- 
mony. 

He  ought  to  have  had  enough  of  it. 

But  Bigamini  had  not. 

He  tempted  fortune  again. 

This  time  he  married  a  young  Chinese  woman  named 
Hysa. 

As  Chinese  women  go  she  was  pretty,  hard-working,  meek- 
mannered,  and  obedient. 

He  made  a  perfect  slave  of  her. 

Taking  her  to  his  house  on  Lake  Lonely,  when  he  bought 
his  property,  he  kept  her  shut  up  there. 

Never  did  he  allow  her  to  go  into  the  city. 

Being  an  orphan,  dependent  on  an  uncle,  who  had  died 
since  her  marriage,  she  had  no  friends. 

She  was  literally  alone  in  the  world. 

The  poor  thing  was  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  Bigamini. 

Little  did  the  wretch  show  her. 

In  his  former  marriages,  he  had  been  dreadfully  bullied 
And  browbeaten  by  his  wives. 

With  Hysa,  all  that  was  altered. 

She  did  not  dare  to  call  her  soul  her  own. 

He  could  have  his  revenge  on  her  sex  now. 

It  was  a  splendid  opportunity  for  the  mean-minded  little  eya. 


1 58  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  KIS  SON'S 

His  contemptible  nature  would  not  allow  him  to  neglect  it. 

He  was  continually  abusing  and  ill-treating  his  wife. 

She  was  familiar  with  blows  and  curses. 

There  was  no  chance  of  her  escaping  from  her  isolated 
prison. 

A  Chinaman,  named  Hi  Li,  in  Bigamini's  employ,  lived 
in  the  house. 

He  had  charge  of  the  boat. 

Without  that  she  could  not  get  from  the  lake  house  to  the 
mainland. 

Though  an  old  man,  Hi  Li  made  a  very  good  watchman, 
and  gave  Hysa  no  chande  to  get  away. 

If  she  could  have  fled,  she  would  have  done  so. 

Having  explained  Bigamini's  position  and  mode  of  life,  we 
will  introduce  our  readers  to  his  office  in  Hong-Kong. 

It  consisted  of  two  rooms  on  the  ground  floor  of  a  house 
in  River  Street. 

He  kept  no  clerk,  as  he  kept  no  books,  and  either  he  or 
one  of  his  partners,  Schneider  or  Blowhard,  were  always  sure 
to  be  in. 

Besides,  a  clerk  might  have  learnt  secrets,  and  betrayed 
them. 

It  was  easy  also  to  receive  and  warehouse  the  stolen 
goods  they  received  in  a  cellar  they  had  below  their  offices, 
where  they  remained  until  they  were  sold  at  a  profit. 

The  three  partners  were  together  one  afternoon,  when  the 
weather  was  very  warm. 

The  Dutchman,  Schneider,  had  just  come  in  from  a  journey. 

Some  wine,  brandy,  and  iced  water  flanked  a  couple  of 
boxes  of  cigars. 

This  fraudulent  gang  of  so-called  shipbrokers  liked  to  live 
well. 

"»Now  Hans,"  exclaimed  Bigamini,  impatiently,  as  he 
drained  his  glass,  "  your  news  ?  " 

"  Vel,  I  goming  to  it,  "  replied  Schneider.  "  Gif  a  man's 
time  to  draw  his  breath,  after  he  shall  trink  his  goot  liquor.  " 

"  Have  you  news  from  the'  Flowery  Land  ? '  "  asked  Blow- 
hard,  the  third  partner. 

"  Yah.  I  see  a  pirate  some  miles  down  the  coast.  They 
have  captured  a  ship  with  silk  laden.  The  bales  will  be 
brought  on  shore  to-night." 

"Good  ! "  said  Bigamini.  "  Did  you  arrange  for  their  car- 
riage to  this  office  ? " 


ADVENTURES  IX  CHIXA. 


'59 


"  It  is  afl  settled.  I  be  there  mit  a  cart,  and  bring  them 
meinself." 

"And  I  will  stay  here  all  night  to  receive  them,  and  put 
them  down  cellar,"  remarked  Blowhard. 

*'  Are  there  many  bales  ?  "  inquired  BigaminL 

"  Two  hundred  and  fifty.  The  price  of  silk  has  gone  up. 
It  is  a  lucky  haul.  The  'pirates  cut  the  throats  of  the  crew, 
and  burnt  the  ship.  Himmel !  they  know  how  to  do 
pisness." 

"  To-morrow  night,"  said  Bigamini,  "  I  want  you  to  help 
me  in  a  little  enterprise." 

"  What  is  that  ?  "  asked  Blowhard. 

"  I  want  to  make  another  raid  on  Mole's  house.  You 
know  that  I  failed  the  last  time  I  tried  it  on. " 

**  Ha,  ha  !  "  laughed  Blowhard.  "  He  nearly  basted  the 
life  out  of  you." 

**  Yah  !  "  grinned  the  Dutchman.  "  You  was  bash  over 
the  head  till  I  thought  you  was  dead." 

"  It  was  all  that  wooden  leg."  replied  BigaminL 

"  If  we  hadn't  rescued  you,  by  Jove !  you  would  have  been 
a  candidate  for  a  coffin." 

"  That's  true,  boys,  and  I'm  thankful  to  you  for  it ;  but 
I'll  have  my  just  revenge." 

"What  will  you  do?"  asked  Blowhard. 

"  Old  Mole's  rich ;  I  know  him  of  old.  He  doesn't  believe 
in  Chinese  banks,  and  keeps  his  money  at  home,  hid  away. 
I  mean  having  that  bullion." 

"  Anyt  hing  else  ?  " 

"  In  the  elegant  phraseology  of  the  educated  Yankees,  you 
bet.  You  know,  perhaps,  that  the  Harkaway  party  are  all  at 
the  plantation  ?  " 

*  Yes,"  replied  Schneider  and  Blowhard  together. 

"  Well,  I  mean  to  steal  one  of  the  party,  which,  I  have 
not  made  up  mv  mind  yet." 

"What  on  earth  for?" 

"  To  hold  him  for  ransom.  Make  money  while  you  can, 
is  my  motto." 

"  I'm  solid  on  that,  too,"  remarked  Blowhard. 

"  Your  head  was  sehr  level,"  observed  the  Dutchman. 

"  Harkaway  and  his  friend  Harvey  can  afford  to  pay." 
continued  Bigamini.  "  I  shall  take  my  prisoner  to  my  lake 
house,  and  there  keep  him  while  negotiations  are  going  o» 
for  his  cr  her  ransom." 


1 60  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WAY  A  ND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  You  say  '  her.'  " 

"  It  may  be  one  of  the  females.  Harvey  has  a  little  girl 
called  Emily.  She's  a  nice  little  thing,  and  a  kind  of  sweet- 
heart of  young  Jack's. " 

"  Ah,  ver'  goot !  "  said  Hans,  gruffly.  "  They  would  pay 
as  moch  for  her  as  for  a  grown-up  person." 

"  She'd  be  easy  to  carry  and  easy  to  mind,"  put  in  old 
Dick  Blowhard. 

"  Just  my  idea,  though  I  had  not  quite  made  up  my  mind 
about  it." 

"  I  would,  then.     You  can't  better  that  spec." 

"Very  well,  the  little  girl  Emily  it  shall  be,  and  I'll  have 
a  thousand  pounds  for  her  redemption.  That  will  be  over 
three  hundred  apiece,  boys.  Are  you  on  ? " 

"  I  was  in  it  from  the  word  'go  ! '"  cried  Schneider. 
*'  Yah,  we  will  wake  up  old  Mole.  " 

"  I'm  with  you,"  said  Blowhard.  "  The  Harkaways  are  a 
hard  lot  to  deaf  with,  aren't  they  ?  I  have  heard  of  them, 
but  never  come  in  contact  with  any  of  the  party." 

"  Oh !  they're  tough,  but  I've  seen  them  cornered,"  an- 
swered Bigamini. 

"  They  have  baffled  our  friends  the  pirates.  That  is  a 
feather  in  their  cap,  as  the  saying  is." 

"  Never  mind.  We  will  baffle  them,  and  double-discount 
them.  I  will  strike,  and  they  will  not  know  where  the  blow 
comes  from,"  said  Bigamini,  with  a  vicious  gleam  in  his 
eyes. 

He  was  terribly  wicked. 

In  fact,  there  was  no  crime  in  the  decalogue  that  this 
diminutive  viper  would  hesitate  to  commit. 

"  How  are  you'going  to  get  the  ransom  money  ?  "  inquired 
Blowhard. 

"  When  the  kidnapping  is  done,  and  I've  got  old  Mole's 
secret  hoard,  and  given  him  a  knock  on  the  head  for  what  the 
timber-toed  old  pig  gave  me,  I'll  consider  that." 

"  You  must  write  a  letter,  stating  that  the  child  will  be 
given  up  if  the  sum  of  money  required  is  put  in  a  certain 
place  at  such  and  such  a  time,"  continued  Blowhard. 

"  That  will  do,"  answered  Bigamini,  smiling.  "  I  can 
count  on  you  two  to-morrow  night  ? " 

%  Without  fail,"  said  Blowhard. 

"*  1  was  your  most  obedient  servant,"  remarked  Schneider. 
u  Where  there  was  money  to  make,  I  was  always  on. 


ADVENTURES  IX  CHINA.  161 

jfax  GoUt  I  fink  I  never  able  to  get  enough  of  the  ooftbh 

He  shook  his  head  gravely,  rattled  some  coins  in  his 
pocket,  as  if  he  liked  the  sound  of  them,  took  a  drink,  filled 
his  large  pipe,  and  began  to  smoke  placidly. 

**  That  being  arranged,"  exclaimed  Bigamini,  "  I  shall 
walk  home  to  my  country  house,  and  if  my  wife  hasn't  got 
my  dinner  ready  when  I  arrive,  I  pity  her." 

He  grated  his  teeth  savagely  together. 

His  small  eyes  emitted  a  spiteful  glare. 

"  Well,"  said  Dick  Blowhard,  ~  there  is  no  more  business 
to  be  done  to-day,  so  I  shall  go  to  my  diggings.*' 

"  I  shtop  here  and  shmoke  mein  pipe  and  have  a  trink  or 
two,  den  I  shuts  up  the  schop  and  closes  the  show,"  remarked 
Hans. 

They    shook    hands,   and    the    three    precious    villains 


The  road  to  Lake  Lonely  being  a  good  one,  it  did  not  take 
our  old  acquaintance,  Bigamini,  more  than  an  hour  and  a 
half  to  walk  to  his  house. 

As  we  have  said,  there  was  only  the  little  village  of  bamboo 
huts,  in  which  his  people  lived,  within  measurable  distance 
of  the  lake  and  the  plantation. 

Bigamini  was  doing  very  well  from  a  pecuniary  point  of 
view,  jet  he  was  not  happy  or  contented. 

It  is  a  question  whether  any  thing  would  have  made  a  man 
with  his  temperament  so  . 

He  had  no  character,  and  loved  things  evil  rather  than 
things  good. 

Arriving  at  the  edge  of  the  lake  opposite  his  house,  which 
looked  very  picturesque,  standing  on  piles  driven  into  the 
water,  he  took  a  silver  whistle  from  his  pocket. 

This  be  blew  shrilly, 

His  man,  Hi  Li.  was  on  the  look-out  for  him. 

Instantly  a  boat  put  off  from  the  house,  and  the  Chinaman 
pulled  for  the  shore. 

"  Is  there  any  news  ?  "  asked  Bigamini,  as  the  boat  ran 
alongside  the  landing-place. 

"  Lo  Mung  camee,  and  is  waiting  for  you,"  replied  Hi  Li. 

"  In  that  case  he  has  got  something  to  communicate." 

Bigamini  stepped  into  the  boat. 

Hi  Li  turned  the  bows  round,  and  struck  out  for  the  house, 
which  he  was  not  long  in  reaching. 


162  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

Lo  Mung  was  a  middle-aged  Chinaman,  in  the  pay  of 
Bigamini. 

But  he  was  also  a  servant  in  Mr.  Mole's  house,  helping  in 
the  cooking,  and  in  various  other  ways. 

Mole  and  his  wife  had  every  confidence  in  him. 

Nevertheless,  he  was  nothing  else  than  a  base,  ungrateful 
spy,  who  betrayed  the  secrets  of  his  master's  house. 

Through  the  cook,  Lo  Mung,  Bigamini  knew  all  that  was 
going  on  at  the  professor's  dwelling. 

Arriving  at  the  house,  Bigamini  got  up  the  ladder  which 
led  to  the  balcony. 

Hi  Li  moored  the  boat  to  a  pile,  and  followed. 

Seated  on  a  bamboo  chair  in  the  balcony  was  an  obese, 
bloated-looking  Chinaman. 

This  was  Lo  Mung. 

"  Ha !  muchee  good-day,"  he  exclaimed.  "  Vellee  veil  ? 
Me  allee  samee.  How  you  doee  ?  Fine  day  ?  Sunshine 
makee  feel  thirst.  Drinkee,  drinkee." 

He  took  up  a  cup  of  tea,  which  had  been  provided  for  him 
by  Hysa. 

She  was  in  the  kitchen,  preparing  her  husband's  dinner, 
which  was  nearly  ready. 

"  What  have  you  come  to  tell  me  ? "  inquired  Bigamini. 

"  Mole,  Harkaway,  all  go  awayee  in  three  days,"  was  the 
answer  of  Lo  Mung. 

"  Going  away !  "  echoed  Bigamini,  in  genuine  surprise. 

"Yes,  Biga-end-ming-ming.  They  go  because  they  think 
they  get  money  in  Europe." 

"  Is  that  all  you  have  heard  ? " 

"  They  bringee  home  from  sea  a  Greek  sailor  man — Spi- 
rillo  callee." 

"Well?" 

"  He  tellee  them  comee  to  this  country.  On  an  island, 
greatee  treasure.  Make  all  richee  for  lifers." 

"That  is  the  queerest  start  I  ever  heard  of." 

"  They  buyee  a  shipper  for  themselves.  In  three  days 
they  be  off,"  added  Lo  Mung. 

"  Not  if  I  know  it  they  won't,"  said  Bigamini,  with  a 
knowing  grin. 

"  Very  strong,  clever  man  Harkaway." 

"  I'll  put  a  stop  to  their  little  game." 

"  How  you  be  a  stopper  ? "  asked  Lo  Mung,  raising  his 
soft,  almond-shaped  eyes. 


.  ADVENTURES  W  CHUTA-  163 

"  You  win  find  out  in  time.     Here  are  five  English  pounds 
for  you." 

He  counted  out  the  roooey. 
Lo 


-  Serve  me  faithfully,  as  you  have  titherfa 
B^amJni,  "and  I  wffl  double  it  in  a  day  or  two." 

-  I  always  be  your  good  servanter ;  be  slaveefor  you." 

-  Betray  me,  pby  me  false,  give  Harka way  and  his  party 
any  idea  of  where  I  five,  or  what  I  am  going  to  do,  and  you 

have  yonrf 
I  would  bite 


-You  know  I  have  influence  widi  die  commissioner  of  the 

-.:'.'.  '.'.. 

- 1  am  a  knower  of  diat,  Biga-end-miiifc  •infc  " 
"Very  weu,  be  carefuL" 

"What   yon  wantee  me  to  be  a  doer  of?"  inquired  Lo 
Mung, 

*  To-morrow  mght,  when  aH  have  gone  to  bed  in  Mole's 
boose,  leave  the  back  door  open." 

"  It  shall  be  done,  most  honourable  excellency." 

-  Where  does  Mole  keep  his  money?"   continued  Biga- 


-In  an  old  wooden  chest,  in  die  back  room,  on  the  ground 
floor,  which  is  on  a  level  widi  the  earthee/*  replied  Lo  Mung. 

«  Can  you  get  the  key?" 

"He  keepeediat  himself ers;  always  tie  round  his  neckee 
with  a  stringer.'" 

"  Doesn't  he  generally  go  to  bed  more  or  less  drunk?0 

"Sometimes  sleep  on  the  floorer,  on  a  mattee." 

"  Persuade  him  to  drink  to-morrow  night.     Put  this  in  his 
it  win  make  him  sleep." 

fcimilrd  him  a  small  phial,  which  contained  a  white 
fluid. 

-Yes,  most  honourable,"  said  Lo  Mung. 

44  Get  die  key,  and  await  my  coming  at  die  back  door." 

"Ha!  you  stealee  monee.  Good!  That  better  than 
takee  wooden  leg.  Me  be  an  understander.  Go  now,  or 
get  into  troublers  for  being  outer  too  kmgee  mnchee." 

Kgamini  raised  his  hand. 

M  Stop ! "  he  cried ;  "  I  haven't  done  yet." 

"  What  more  you  sayee?" 

"Where  does  die  htde  girl  Emily  sleep?  Harvey's 
daughter,  you  know." 


1 64  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  The  one  who  playee,  with  young  Master  Jack  Hark- 
away  ?  " 

"  Exactly.     That  is  the  one  I  allude  to. " 

"  She  havee  littler  roomer  all  to  herselfers,  at  the  bottom 
of  the  staircasers,  "  Lo  Mung  answered. 

"  You  must  be  ready  to  show  it  to  me." 

"  She  prettee  child — no  killee." 

"  Who  said  I  was  going  to  kill  her,  you  fool  ? "  exclaimed 
Bigamini.  "  I  am  only  going  to  bring  her  here  and  ask 
money  for  her  return  to  her  mother  and  father." 

"  Ah  !  that  allee  rightee." 

"  You  shall  have  some  of  the  cash  when  I  get  it  and  when 
the  party  go,  I  will  find  work  for  you." 

"  I  bow  to  your  generosity,  most  honourable  Biga-end- 
ming-ming,"  said  Lo  Mung.  "  But  respectfully  me  tellee 
you  one  thing." 

"  Name  it." 

"  Beware  of  the  big  monkee.  He  always  about  the  house 
somewhere.  That  beaster  is  never  a  sleeper." 

"  Will  he  fight  ?  "  asked  Bigamini. 

"  He  scratchee  and  bitee  like  a  Tartar,  excellency." 

"  I'll  carve  him  with  my  knife.  Bah  !  I'm  not  afraid  of 
apes.  You  can  depart  now.  Don't  forget  my  instructions." 

"They  are  written  on  my  heartee,"  replied 'Lo  Mung. 

He  inclined  his  head,  and  walked  down  the  steps. 

Hi  Li  unfastened  the  beat  as  he  stepped  into  it,  and 
paddled  him  to  the  land. 

Then  Lo  Mung  went  back  as  quickly  as  he  could  to  Pro- 
fessor Mole's  house,  to  attend  to  his  duties. 

Bigamini  entered  his  own  domicile,  and  walked  into  the 
kitchen. 

Some  fish,  caught  in  the  lake  by  Hi  Li  had  been  fried  in 
oil. 

Hysa  was  busily  engaged  in  putting  some  plain  boiled  rice 
on  a  dish,  round  a  fowl,  which  she  had  roasted. 

"  Isn't  my  dinner  ready  ? "  he  demanded,  with  an  oath. 
"You  heard  me  come  home." 

"  It  will  not  be  a  minute,"  she  replied.  "  I  never  know 
precisely  when  to  expect  you." 

Hysa  spoke  very  good  English,  for  she  had  been  a  servant 
in  the  British  Consul's  establishment. 

She  was  very  well  behaved,  and  always  conducted  herself 
becomingly. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  165 

*  Don't  answer  me,  or  I'll  drown  you,"  he  cried  with  a 
fitrce  look ;  "  by  heaven,  I  will !  Make  haste  and  serve  the 
dinner.  Get  me  a  bottle  of  wine,  and  look  sharp.  What 
do  I  keep  you  for  ? " 

The  woman's  eyes  flashed. 

There  was  a  subdued  fire  in  them,  which  indicated,  if  he 
could  read  their  language  aright,  that  she  was  growing  tired 
of  his  brutality. 

"  I  could  get  my  living  anywhere,"  she  said. 

"  What,  am  I  to  be  defied  ?     Take  care ! " 

"  Let  me  go.  I  am  sick  of  this  life.  Never  can  I  please 
you  or  give  satisfaction." 

Bigamini  walked  up  to  her. 

Raising  his  fist,  he  struck  her  a  cowardly  blow. 

She  fell  to  the  floor,  stunned  and  bleeding. 

Taking  no  notice  of  her  he  placed  the  dinner,  with  his  own 
hands,  on  the  table,  produced  a  bottle  of  wine  from  a  cup- 
board, opened  it,  drank,  and  began  to  eat  as  if  nothing  had 
happened. 

When  he  had  gratified  his  appetite — he  was  a  large,  quick, 
gluttonous  eater — he  finished  the  bottle  of  wine. 

Lighting  some  opium  in  a  pipe,  he  threw  himself  on  a  pile 
of  cushions  in  a  corner. 

He  was  soon  in  the  land  of  dreams. 

All  this  time  his  unfortunate  wife  had  remained  uncon- 
scious. 

She  now  came  to  her  senses,  and,  with  a  deep  sigh,  rose  to 
her  feet. 

There  was  a  mirror  hanging  on  the  wall. 

By  the  light  of  the  setting  sun,  she  saw  that  her  face  was 
disfigured,  and  covered  with  blood. 

She  washed  the  stains  away,  and  sat  down  at  an  open 
window,  looking  out  moodily  at  the  lake. 

"  Ah  !  "  she  muttered,  "  I  cannot  endure  this  life  for  ever. 
The  end  must  come  soon.  I  will  ruin  that  man — yes,  if  I  fall 
myself,  I  will  drag  him  to  the  ground." 

When  it  was  dark,  Hysa,  her  eyes  red  with  weeping,  retired 
to  rest. 

Bigamini  remained  on  the  cushions  all  night,  under  the  hi' 
fluence  of  opium. 

The  next  day  the  abject  wretch  awoke  from  his  debauch, 
weak  and  trembling,  all  his  nerves  being  shaken  by  the  vile, 
soul-deadening  drug. 


1 66  JACK  HARK  A  iVA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

He  had  recourse  to  strong  tea  and  the  brandy  bottle  as  a 
means  of  steadying  himself. 

That  day  he  remained  at  home. 

In  the  evening,  he  was  visited  by  his  two  partners,  as  had 
been  agreed  upon. 

Schneider  and  Blowhard  drank  and  talked  with  him  until 
it  was  nearly  midnight. 

Then  Hi  Li  rowed  them  to  the  shore,  and  they  started  to 
walk  to  Mr.  Mole's  house. 

It  was  their  settled  determination  to  rob  the  professor  of 
his  hidden  hoard. 

Also  they  were  to  steal  away  little  Emily,  and  hide  her  in 
the  Lake  House  for  the  purpose  of  ransom. 

It  was  a  dangerous  undertaking. 

Their  path  bristled  with  perils. 

If  they  were  surprised,  Harkaway  and  Harvey  would  show 
them  no  mercy. 

The  air  was  still  as  death. 

No  moon  was  visible,  but,  as  usual,  a  galaxy  of  stars  twin- 
kled in  the  sky. 

As  the  confederates  went  along,  they  arranged  their  plans. 

Schneider  and  Blowhard  were  to  stay  outside  Mr.  Mole's 
house.,  while  Bigamini  went  inside,  and  with  the  aid  of  Lo 
Mung,  accomplished  his  purpose. 

The  little  girl,  Emily,  was  to  be  handed  to  Bfowhard,  and 
the  money  taken  from  the  chest  was  to  be  given  to  Schneider. 

They  were  to  hasten  to  the  house  on  Lake  Lonely,  and 
Bigamini  was  to  bring  up  the  rear. 

In  order  to  facilitate  matters  and  render  the  child  uncon- 
scious, Bigamini  had  provided  himself  with  a  handkerchief 
steeped  in  chloroform. 

This  would  effectually  prevent  her  from  crying  out  and 
raising  an  alarm. 

The  house  was  reached  in  due  time. 

All  was  silent  as  the  grave. 

The  inmates  had  retired  to  rest  some  time  ago. 

Schneider  and  Blowhard  placed  themselves  against  the 
wall  so  as  to  conceal  themselves. 

With  a  crafty  tread,  Bigamini  approached  the  back  door. 

It  was  open. 

'•  Are  you  there  ?  "  asked  Bigamini,  under  his  breath. 

"  Yes,  excellency,"  replied  Lo  Mung.  "  I  have  been  await- 
ing your  coming  for  some  timee." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  167 

"Is  afl  quiet?" 

~  Everything.  Mandarin  Mole  ts  asleep  MI  Ac  parlour, 
fullee  of  whisky." 

"  Are  you  sure  he  is  tipsy  ?  " 

"  Him  sleepee  like  a  toppee." 

•  •  Good.  \Yhere  is  the  key  of  the  chest  in  which  the  old 
man  keeps  his  treasure  ?  " 

14  Here.  O  sun  and  moon  of  my  existence." 

Saving  this,  Lo  Mung  handed  him  a  key. 

" Do  I  not  serve  you  well,  hope  of  my  life?"  he  added. 

"  Yes ;  I  will  advance  you.  Before  long  you  shall  have 
land,  and  be  your  own  master.1" 

"  Follow  me.  high  and  mighty.     I  showee  you  the  chest" 

Lo  Mung  led  the  way  to  a  room  in  which  a  Chinese  lantern 
was  burning  dimly. 

In  one  corner  was  a  large  wooden  chest,  secured  by  a 
patent  lock,  which  had  been  made  in  Europe. 

There  was  enough  light  in  the  room  into  which  he  was  in- 
troduced for  the  robber's  purpose. 

Mole  was  lying  on  his  back,  snoring  heavily ;  m,  bottle  was 
by  his  side,  and  there  was  also  an  empty  glass. 

"  Me  givee  him  the  powder,"  said  Lo  Mung. 

"  He  won't  move  tfll  morning,"  replied  BigaminL  "  I've 
a  good  mind  to  take  away  the  old  roosters  wooden  legs,  bat 
it  would  occupy  too  much  time.  Where  is  the  key  ?  " 

"  Me  gottee  it.     Here  it  am." 

"  Hand  it  over." 

The  Chinaman  gave  Bigammi  the  key  of  the  chest. 

In  less  than  a  minute  it  was  opened,  and  two  large  bags  of 
gold  extracted. 

Carrying  them  to  the  back  door.  Bigammi  nm&rA 

"Where  are  you,  Dutchy?"  he  said. 

«  Here,"  replied  Schneider. 

He  presented  him  with  the  gold,  which  the  Dutchman,  ac- 
cording to  previous  agreement,  was  to  take  to  the  Lake  House. 

Returning  to  the  room,  Bigamini  relocked  the  chest  and 
put  the  string  which  held  the  key  round  Mole's  neck  again. 

The  professor  did  not  stir. 

He  was  perfectly  unconscious  of  all  his  SUIT 


«  Now  for  the  child,"  said  Bigamini,  in  a  hoarse  wl 
"This  way,  most  magnificent,"  replied  Lo  Mung. 
He  conducted  him  to  the  apartment  in  which  little  Emily 
deeping. 


168  JA  CA-  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

She  looked  the  picture  of  innocence,  as  the  Chinaman  held 
a  lantern  over  her  head. 

Bigamini  took  the  chloroformed  handkerchief  from  his 
pocket,  and  held  it  to  her  face. 

She  moved  uneasily,  but  uttered  no  cry. 

In  two  minutes  she  was  completely  under  the  influence  of 
the  soporific  drug. 

Bigamini  could  hear  his  heart  beat. 

It  was  an  anxious  time  for  the  cowardly  scoundrel. 

But  fortune  favoured  his  disgraceful  schemes,  his  star  was 
in  the  ascendant. 

Without  interruption  he  carried  the  child  to  Schneider, 
wrapped  only  in  a  sheet. 

The  Dutchman  immediately  made  off. 

Bigamini  spoke  a  few  words  to  Lo  Mung,  who  retired  into 
the  house,  and  bolted  the  door  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 

As  the  chief  concoctor  of  this  mischief  was  about  to  follow 
his  companions,  he  met  with  a  great  surprise. 

Something  sprang  on  to  his  back,  and  two  sinewy,  bony  arms 
were  twined  round  his  neck. 

What  was  it  ? 

He  put  up  his  hand  to  ascertain. 

It  came  in  contact  with  the  furry  skin  of  some  animal. 

In  a  moment  he  recollected  Lo  Mung's  warning. 

It  must  be  young  Jack  Harkaway's  monkey,  which  had 
been  prowling  about  outside  the  house. 

Nero's  instincts  told  him  there  was  something  wrong. 

He  felt  that  he  had  come  across  an  unauthorized  person 
in  the  garden. 

Perhaps  he  remembered  and  knew  him  again. 

If  he  did  not,  Bigamini  recollected  the  ape  perfectly  well, 
and  shuddered  at  coming  in  contact  with  him. 

The  attack  had  taken  him  by  surprise. 

In  vain  he  endeavoured  to  throw  off  the  clinging  embrace 
of  the  savage  and  powerful  little  beast. 

Nero's  grip  became  intensified. 

He  was  slowly  but  surely  throttling  the  hateful  spy  and 
kidnapper,  all  the  while  he  kept  on  chattering  in  his  ear,  as 
if  he  was  telling  him,  in  monkey  language,  how  glad  he  was 
to  have  got  him  in  his  power. 

The  veins  on  the  wretched  man's  forehead  became  swollen 
like  cords. 

His  eyes  began  to  start  from  their  sockets. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  169 

Great  beads  of  perspiration  dropped  from  his  face,  and 
blood  trickled  slowly  from  his  nose. 

He  gasped  for  breath,  for  he  was  choking. 

Lo  Mung  had  retired  within  the  house  and  knew  nothing 
of  what  was  going  on. 

It  was  useless  to  look  for  assistance  from  him. 

To  call  out  would  have  been  to  betray  himself  to  Harka- 
\vay  and  his  frends. 

He  felt  for  his  knife,  but  he  had  dropped  it. 

His  pistol  was  available,  but  he  was  afraid  to  use  it,  as  a 
report  would  give  the  alarm. 

Besides  this,  the  bullet  would  probably  go  through  the 
monkey's  body  and  into  his  own. 

Suddenly  he  noticed  that  he  was  standing  close  to  a  large 
palm  tree. 

Making  a  final  effort,  he  staggered  towards  it. 

With  all  his  strength  he  backed  on  to  the  trunk,  and  got 
the  monkey  jammed  against  it. 

The  shock  caused  the  brute  to  relax  his  hold. 

Another  jam  made  his  ribs  crack,  and,  with  a  shrill  cry, 
Xero  fell  to  the  ground. 

Bigamini  was  able  to  breathe  again. 

The  monkey,  lying  on  his  side,  began  to  chatter  as  loud 
as  he  could. 

To  stop  his  noise  and  avenge  himself,  Bigamini  kicked 
nun  twice  on  the  head. 

This  treatment  stunned  Nero,  who  became  quiet 

Looking  up,  Bigimini  saw  a  light  moving  in  one  of  the 
rooms. 

It  vanished,  and  was  then  to  be  seen  in  another. 

Some  member  of  the  household  had  been  aroused,  and 
was  awakening  the  others. 

"  Time  to  be  off,"  muttered  Bigamini. 

A  cock  began  to  crow. 

It  was  heralding  the  dawn,  which  ushers  in  the  day  very 
Dearly  in  those  latitudes. 

Giving  the  monkey  a  parting  kick,  in  token  of  derision, 
the  spy  disappeared  among  the  tall  and  graceful  trees,  with 
which  Mr.  Mole's  house  was  surrounded. 


170  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE  DISAPPEARANCE  OF  LITTLE  EMILY  CREATES  A  GREAT 
COMMOTION — THE  MYSTERIOUS  LETTER — MONDAY  GOES  ON 
THE  WAR-PATH  WITH  YOUNG  JACK 

WHEN  Nero  was  jammed  between  the  trunk  of  the  tree 
and  Bigamini's  back,  he  uttered  a  peculiar  cry,  as  we  have 
said. 

This  was  heard  by  young  Jack  Harkaway. 

All  the  evening  he  had  been  strangely  restless,  and  when 
he  went  to  bed  he  was  unable  to  sleep. 

His  mind  reverted  back  to  his  timely  escape  from  the 
clutches  of  Hunston  and  the  pirates. 

Though  he  was  safe  with  his  parents  once  more,  he 
doubted  the  present  and  feared  the  future. 

At  any  moment  he  knew  that  he  might  expect  a  blow  in 
the  dark,  either  from  Hunston  or  one  of  his  emissaries. 

When  he,  through  his  open  window,  heard  the  monkey's 
cry,  he  sprang  out  of  bed.  It  did  not  take  him  long  to  light 
a  lamp  and  get  his  clothes  on. 

He  was  well  aware  that  Nero  would  not  cry  out  like  that 
for  nothing. 

There  was  something  wrong. 

Of  that  young  Jack  was  sure. 

His  father  slept  in  an  adjoining  room,  to  which  he  quickly 
made  his  way. 

In  moments  of  danger,  Jack  always  sought  his  father  in 
preference  to  anyone  else. 

He  could  rely  equally  upon  his  judgment  and  valour. 

Without  waking  his  mother,  the  touched  his  father  on  the 
shoulder,  and  rousing  him,  made  a  sign, 

Harkaway  construed  this  correctly. 

His  son  wanted  to  communicate  something  to  him  privately. 

As  rapidly  as  possible  he  slipped  on  his  pants  and  a  light 
coat,  and  followed  Jack  down  the  stairs. 

"  What  is  it  ? "  he  asked. 

"  I  don't  know,  but  there  is  something  up,  father.  That's 
why  I  called  you,"  answered  Jack. 

"  Let  me  hear  all  about  it." 


AD  VENTURES  IN  CHINA.  1 7 1 

"  All  I  can  tell  you  is,  that  I  heard  Nero  give  a  strange 
cry,  which  monkeys  only  utter  when  hurt." 

"  Inside  or  out  ?  " 

"  It  seemed  to  come  from  the  garden.  Shall  we  go  and 
see  ?  I  have  a  pistol." 

"  All  right — forge  ahead,"  said  Harkaway. 

Young  Jack  unbolted  the  back  door,  and  they  both 
passed  out. 

The  sun  was  rising  with  unspeakable  beauty,  streaking  the 
heavens  with  a  roseate  hue. 

A  perfume  of  many  flowers  assailed  the  nostrils,  and  the 
eye  was  gladdened  by  green  leaves  and  verdure  of  various 
kinds. 

The  beauties  of  Nature  had  no  charm,  however,  for  young 
Jack  on  this  particular  occasion. 

He  had  made  a  pet  of  Nero,  and  was  greatly  attached  to 
him. 

The  monkey  had  rendered  him  good  service  in  times 
gone  by. 

Some  boys  make  pets  of  birds,  some  of  dogs  and  ponies, 
but  Jack's  only  favourite  among  the  dumb  creation  was 
Nero. 

He  would  sooner  have  been  knocked  about  himself  than 
that  his  monkey  should  suffer. 

Looking  around  he  speedily  espied  him. 

As  he  lay  under  the  palm  tree,  he  looked  exactly  as  if  he 
were  dead. 

"  Look,  father  !  "  cried  Jack.  "  They  have  killed  the 
poor  brute." 

"  Who  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  Harkaway. 

"  How  can  I  tell  ?  Some  enemies,  I  suppose.  We  have 
enough  of  them,  and  to  spare." 

"  I  hope  he  is  not  dead.     It  appears  to  me  he  breathes." 

"  Will  you  look  at  him,  dad  ?  I'm  not  much  of  a  doctor. 
By  Jove !  I  knew  he  would  not  cry  out  for  nothing.  It's 
lucky  I  heard  him,  got  up,  and  roused  you." 

"Yes.  If  he  is  injured,  he  might  have  died  without 
help." 

Saying  this  Harkaway  advanced  to  the  prostrate  monkey. 

He  felt  his  bones  all  over  his  body. 

Harkaway  was  surgeon  enough  to  be  able  to  tell  that 
none  were  fractured. 

Then  he  examined  the  head,  and  found  that  Nero   was 


1 7 2  JA  CK  HA RKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

bleeding  from  two  wonnds — one  above  the  mouth,  the  other 
under  one  of  his  ears. 

"  He's  all  right,  as  far  as  his  bones  and  body  are 
concerned,''  he  said ;  "  but  he's  got  a  couple  of  what  the 
Yanks  call '  sockdollagers  '  on  the  head." 

"  Is  it  serious  ?  "  inquired  Jack. 

"  No  ;  he's  been  floored  and  stunned.  A  drop  of  brandy 
will  suit  his  complaint  as  well  as  any  thing." 

"  Shall  I  get  some  ? " 

«  Yes.     I'll  stand  by." 

Young  Jack  went  into  the  house,  got  some  brandy  in  a 
wine-glass,  and  handed  it  to  his  father. 

The  latter  gently  administerted  the  spirit,  as  a  nurse  or  a 
doctor  would  medicine. 

In  a  few  minutes  a  decided  improvement  was  noticeable. 

Nero  opened  his  eyes,  and  seeing  his  young  master  by  his 
side,  rose  up,  and  began  to  chatter  vehemently. 

He  pointed  as  sensibly  as  possible  to  the  hurts  on  his 
face. 

Then  he  capered  among  the  trees,  as  if  to  indicate  that 
his  foe  had  gone  that  way. 

"  All  right,  old  boy,"  exclaimed  young  Jack.  "  I  under- 
stand what  you  want  to  tell  us.  Someone  has  been  here. 
You  drove  him — or  them — off." 

"  It's  a  pity  the  beggars  can't  talk,"  remarked  Harkaway. 
"  They  are  very  human." 

"  So  they  are.  I've  seen  lots  of  monkey-faced  people. 
Perhaps  they  are  some  relation." 

"  He's  got  something  more  to  tell  us." 

"  How  ?  what  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  Don't  you  see  he  is  at  the  back  door  ?  He  wants  to 
show  us  something,  if  he  can't  talk,"  replied  Harkaway. 

"  By  Jingo !  that  must  be  it.  I  never  saw  such  a 
monkey." 

"  Nor  anyone  else.  He's  a  living  curiosity.  Recollect 
what  he  did  at  the  hotel  in  New  York  when  it  was  on  fire." 

"  Yes,  and  more  recently,  how  he  played  at  being  a  soldier 
and  fired  a  blank  cartridge  at  Mole.  Ha,  ha !  that  was  a 
good  joke." 

Talking  in  this  way  they  entered  the  house,  preceded  by 
Nero. 

The  monkey  appeared  especially  anxious  for  them  to  follow 
him. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  173 

There  could  be  no  doubt  from  what  ensued  that  Nero 
had  witnessed  all  the  villainy  of  BigaminL 

Nor,  as  will  be  seen,  was  he  ignorant  of  the  treachery  of 
Lo  Mung. 

First,  he  took  Jack  and  his  father  into  the  parlour  where 
Mr.  Mole  had  fallen  asleep  on  the  floor. 

It  was  always  too  much  exertion,  now  he  had  lost  his  legs, 
to  go  up  stairs  if  he  had  had  a  drop  too  much. 

Poor  professor !  He  was  not  growing  younger,  and  he 
had  been  hi  the  wars. 

Xero  jumped  on  the  money  chest  and  touched  the  lock 
with  his  paw. 

Then  he  looked  up  intelligently  at  his  master. 

"  Father,"  said  young  Jack,  "  there's  been  a  robbery  here, 
or  I'm  mistaken." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ?  "  asked  Harkaway. 

"  This  is  the  chest  Mole  keeps  his  money  in.  You  know 
he  has  a  prejudice  against  banking  it  Nero  has  some  mean- 
ing in  his  head,  or  he  would  not  sit  there." 

"Where  is  the  key?" 

"  He  carries  it  on  a  bit  of  string  tied  round  his  neck." 

"  Go  and  see  if  he  has  it  there," 

Young  Jack  examined  the  tutor,  who  was  blissfully  uncon- 
scious of  all  around  him. 

He  reclined  on  his  back,  and  snored  as  if  it  were  for  a 
wager. 

"  Here's  the  key,  father ! "  cried  Jack. 

"  Mole's  indulging  in  one  of  his  *  usuals.'  He  thought  we 
had  all  gone  to  bed  and  should  not  miss  him.  He's  as 
drunk  as  a  lord,  but  here's  the  key  of  the  chest,  so  Ne^o  is 
wrong  for  once." 

"  That  proves  nothing,"  Harkaway  replied. 

"Why  not?" 

"  Bring  me  the  key.     Let  us  examine  the  chest." 

**  Oh  J     I  see  what  you  mean." 

**  If  you  don't,  you  are  a  baby.  When  were  you  born — 
yesterday,  or  the  day  before  ?  " 

Young  Jack  took  the  liberty  of  removing  Mr.  Mole's  key 
and  opened  the  chest 

Harkaway  leant  over  his  shoulder  while  he  did  so. 

The  lid  was  thrown  up. 

There  was  no  money  there. 

"  As  I  suspected,"  observed  Harkaway,  "  the  thief,  who- 


1 74  JA  CK  HARKA  WAY  AND  HIS  SON'S 

ever  he  is,  has  taken  advantage  of  Mole's  inebriety.  He  re- 
placed the  key  after  emptying  the  chest  of  its  contents." 

"  That  is  plain  enough,"  answered  young  Jack.  "  I  did 
not  tumble  at  first.  I  do  now." 

"  But  the  door  was  locked.  How  did  he  get  in  ?  You  un- 
did the  bolt.  I  saw  you." 

Young  Jack  looked  at  the  window. 

That  was  shut. 

Only  the  ventilators  admitted  air. 

He  ran  to  every  room  on  the  ground  floor. 

It  was  the  same  in  each  one. 

The  front  door  was  also  securely  fastened. 

It  did  not  seem  as  if  there  was  a  traitor  in  the  house.- 

The  thief  must  have  come  from  outside,  or  how  did  thft 
monkey  get  his  injuries  ? 

It  was  a  mystery. 

"  Someone  must  have  let  the  robber  in,  and  then  let  him 
out,"  remarked  Harkaway. 

"  We  have  Chinese  servants,  father,"  replied  young 
Jack. 

"  Lo  Mung,  one  man,  two  women,"  said  Harkaway.  "  Alt 
the  others  who  work  for  us  live  outside — come  in  the  morn- 
ing and  go  at  night.  Their  cottages  are  half-a-mile  off.  Lo 
Mung  was  highly  recommended,  good  character,  and  all  that 
sort  of  thing." 

"  The  Chinese  are  not  trustworthy." 

"  That  is  true;  false  characters  are  easily  obtained." 

"  I  must  confess  that  I  am  fairly  puzzled,"  said  young 
Jack. 

Nero  came  up  to  him  as  he  spoke,  put  his  paw  on  his  hand, 
and  with  a  significant  look  walked  towards  the  door. 

"  He  is  at  it  again.  There  is  some  idea  in  that  noddle  of 
his,"  exclaimed  Harkaway. 

"  It's  a  case  of  following  leader." 

"  Certainly.  The  sagacious  animal  wants  to  show  us 
something  more.  Heaven  grant  it  may  be  nothing  very 
serious." 

«'  How  can  it  be  ? " 

"  I  don't  know.     My  heart  misgives  me." 

Nervous  and  anxious,  they  went  after  the  monkey. 

The  latter  directed  his  steps  to  the  room  in  which  little 
Emily  had  been  sleeping. 

He  proceeded  on  all-fours  to  the  bed. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  175 

Snatching  at  the  clothes,  he  showed  them  that  it  was 
empty. 

Their  consternation  was  extreme. 

.*'  The  girl's  gone  ! "  cried  Harkaway. 

"  Don't  say  that,"  exclaimed  young  Jack,  turning  hot  and 
then  cold. 

Emily  was  his  sweetheart. 

He  loved  her  as  tenderly  and  fondly  as  she  loved  him. 

These  two  seemed  to  be  made  to  grow  up  affectionately 
together,  and  marry  in  due  course. 

If  marriages  are  made  in  heaven,  this  was  to  be  one  of 
them. 

"  Search  the  house,"  continued  Harkaway.  "  Don't  wake 
anyone  up  yet,  if  you  can  help  it.  She  may  be  with  Harvey 
and  Hilda." 

Away  went  young  Jack,  his  heart  beating  wildly. 

He  carefully  examined  every  room  in  the  house. 

No  trace  of  the  missing  girl  was  to  be  discovered. 

Crestfallen  and  dejected,  he  came  back  and  told  his  father 
so. 

"  This  is  a  great  blow  to  all  of  us,"  said  Harkaway.  "  Espe- 
cially will  it  be  felt  by  Harvey  and  his  wife." 

"  Who  can  have  done  such  a  dastardly  thing  as  to  steal  an 
inoffensive  child  who  has  never  done  anyone  any  harm  ?  " 

4i  I  am  at  a  loss  to  imagine.  It  puzzles  me.  Hunston  can- 
not be  in  Hong-Kong.  We  shall  have  to  find  out" 

"  What  would  people  steal  Emily  for  ?  " 

"  Money,  I  expect — a  ransom,  as  it  is  called.  It  is  a  ter- 
rible mystery,  and  a  great  perplexity." 

"We  shall  not  be  able  to  sail  for  the  Island  of  Mystery 
now,"  continued  young  Jack. 

"  It  is  not  likely,  until  we  have  recovered  Emily.  No — our 
stay  here  is  prolonged  indefinitely." 

"  When  will  our  troubles  be  over  ?  " 

••  Never,  I  am  afraid ;  but  we  must  face  them  bravely  like 
men,"  replied  Harkaway. 

"  That's  right,  father ;  nothing  will  daunt  me." 

"  You're  a  chip  of  the  old  block.  Jack." 

"  Thank  you  father.     I  feel  complimented." 

The  monkey  a  third  time  came  to  young  Jack. 

He  put  his  paw  on  his  hand,  looking  in  his  face  as  before. 

"Hullo?"  said  Harkaway,  "more  revelations.  The 
Simian  creature  must  be  obeyed." 


1 76  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOJV'S 

Young  Jack  patted  Nero  on  the  head,  and  again  followed 
him,  his  father  also  accompanying. 

This  time  the  monkey  led  them  to  a  small  ante-room  on 
the  same  floor 

In  this  apartment  Lo  Mung  slept,  on  a  pile  of  matting. 

He  pretended  to  be  asleep. 

But  the  artful  Mongolian  was  far  from  being  in  the  land 
of  dreams. 

He  had  heard  people  moving  about  the  house,  and  had 
not  closed  his  eyes. 

When  the  monkey  entered  the  ante-room  with  Harkaway 
and  young  Jack,  he  simulated  slumber. 

Nero  walked  to  the  bed,  touched  Lo  Mung  on  the  arm, 
and  regarded  his  master  steadfastly. 

"  What  does  that  mean  ?  "  asked  Harkaway. 

"  Simply  that  this  Chinese  Johnny  is  in  it,"  replied 
Jack. 

"  A  spy  !  a  traitor  !  " 

"  Exactly." 

"  In  league  with  the  robber  and  kidnapper  ! "  continued 
Harkaway. 

"  What  do  you  think  ?  I'd  stake  my  life  on  the  acumen 
of  Nero,  He  knows  how  many  beans  make  five." 

"I  will  tackle  him  in  the  morning,"  said  Harkaway, 
"  though  I  do  not  think  we  shall  get  much  out  of  him." 

"  Wake  him  up  now,  and  ask  him  questions,"  exclaimed 
young  Jack.  "  Sleeping  here,  as  he  does,  close  to  the  pas- 
sage, he  ought  to  know  a  lot." 

"  Let  him  be." 

"What  are  you  going  to  do,  father  ?  " 

"  Wake  Harvey  and  tell  him  of  his  loss.  He  must  com- 
municate the  sad  news  to  Hilda.  They  will  feel  as  bad  as 
your  mother  and  I  did  when  you  were  in  the  power  of  Hun-- 
ston  on  board  the  pirate  junk,"  answered  Harkaway. 

They  walked  away  to  the  door. 

Nero  did  not  appear  to  like  this,  for  he  began  to  chatter 
noisily. 

As  they  paid  no  attention  to  him,  he  stood  on  his  hind  legs 
and  bent  over  Lo  Mung. 

With  a  sudden  outburst  of  temper,  he  fell  upon  the  China- 
man and  bit  his  ear. 

Lo  Mung  sprang  up  with  an  awful  howl. 

It  was  audible  over  the  whole  house. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  177 

"  Takee  the  monkee !  He  killee  me  ! "  he  yelled  "  Oh ! 
Ah!  Oh!" 

Young  Jack  seized  Xero  by  the  neck,  and  palled  him  off. 

"  My  earer  badlee  chewee  I  I  am  a  sufferer  of  painee  !  "' 
continued  Lo  Mung. 

In  a  few  minutes  everyone  was  aroused. 

Magog,  Brand,  Pike  and  Jefferson,  had  gone  on  a  three 
days*  fishing  excursion,  and  had  taken  Sunday  with  them. 

But  Harvey,  Monday,  Doctor  Stanley  and  Jack's  boy  friend, 
rushed  down  stairs. 

They  eagerly  inquired  what  was  the  matter. 

In  a  few  words  Harkaway  told  them  of  what  had  happened. 

Harvey's  grief  was  excessive. 

After  a  brief  conversation,  it  was  determined  to  examine 
Lo  Mung. 

Nothing  less  than  a  cannon-shot  or  an  earthquake  could 
have  roused  Mr.  Mole  until  his  usual  time. 

Lo  Mung  was  made  to  stand  up  before  Harkaway  and 
Harvey. 

Behind  them  stood  young  Jack  and  Monday. 

-Now,  Mr.  John  Chinaman,"  exclaimed  Harkaway,  "we 
want  you  to  answer  a  few  questions." 

The  man  rubbed  his  eyes  and  yawned  several  times. 

"  Me  vellee  sleepee,"  he  muttered.  "  Never  me  sleepee  so 
soundee.  Heapee  big  sleepee  this  nightee." 

"  Who  was  it  you  let  into  the  house  ?  "  demanded  Hark- 
away.  "  Speak  out.  you  old  humbug,  or  111  leather  you  with 
a  bamboo  till  you  do." 

"  Never  was  a  mover.     Shuttee  eye  all  timee." 

"  We  know  better.  The  money  is  gone  from  the  chest,  and 
the  little  girl  has  been  stolen." 

"  That  bad  news.     Wicked  mans  comee  from  ritee." 

**  You  let  them  hi." 

"No,  no — that  is  a  mistake,"  replied  Lo  Mung,  shaking 
his  head  emphatically. 

Harkaway  had  hastily  seized  a  bamboo  cane  used  as  a 
walking-stick. 

Telling  Harvey  and  Monday  to  hold  him,  he  lashed  the 
fellow's  back  as  hard  as  he  could. 

The  Chinese  from  their  youth  are  used  to  be  being  beaten. 

Perhaps  it  has  not  so  much  effect  on  them  as  it  otherwise 
would  have,  for  this  reason. 

Lo  Mung  squirmed,  twisted,  groaned,  and  jelled. 

12 


I  ;S  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

But  he  did  not  betray  his  employer,  Bigamini. 

Fully  a  hundred  blows  did  Harkaway  bestow  upon  him 
before  he  desisted. 

He  was  compelled  to  do  so  from  sheer  exhaustion. 

"  Won't  you  confess  ? "  cried  Harkaway. 

"  Me  nothing  to  tellee.  Sleepee  all  the  timee,"  replied  Lo 
Mung. 

"  I'll  give  you  fifty  taels  if  you  will  let  me  hear  the  truth." 

"You  payee  me  for  beatee,  or  me  go  to  Commissioner 
Judge  and  he  finee  you." 

Harkaway  bit  his  lip.  He  saw  that  the  rascal  was  a  match 
for  him. 

Though  Lo  Mung  was  his  servant,  he  had  no  right  to  beat 
him. 

By  committing  an  assault  he  had  exceeded  his  privilege, 
and  rendered  himself  amenable  to  a  fine. 

To  avoid  this  he  had  to  bargain  with  him,  and  make  him 
a  present  of  a  certain  sum  of  money. 

"Good,"  said  the  Chinaman,  with  a  bland,  child-like  smile, 
forgetting  his  pain  by  counting  his  gain.  "  Now  payee  for 
monkee,  ear  chewee." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  you  insolent  scoundrel  ?  "  Jack  de- 
manded. 

"  That  China  law — payee  for  monkee." 

"  Do  you  think  I'm  made  of  money,  and  you  have  found  a 
little  gold-mine  in  me  ? " 

"  If  not  knuckle  downee,  alle  samee  as  before,  me  go  to 
Judge,  and  he  givee  you  toko  for  yam." 

"  You  are  making  a  market  of  me,  and  I  suppose  it's  no 
use  for  me  to  kick." 

"  Pay  him  and  sack  him,"  suggested  young  Jack. 

Harkaway  had  to  make  another  bargain,  and  part  with  more 
money. 

It  was  necessary  to  gratify  the  rapacity  of  Lo  Mung,  or  he 
would  have  set  the  ponderous  machine  of  the  law  in  motion. 

"  Now  you  can  hook  it  as  soon  as  you  like,"  continued 
young  Jack.  "  Make  yourself  scarce." 

Lo  Mung  did  not  offer  to  move. 

He  looked  contemptuously  at  young  Jack,  who  was  rapidly 
becoming  enraged  at  his  immobility. 

"  Pay  no  attention  to  boy  talkee,"  cried  Lo  Mung.  "  Man- 
darin Mole  my  master  boss." 

"  He'll  soon  start  you." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  179 

•*  When  he  say  go.  me  be  a  goer,  not  before." 

Saying  this,  Lo  Mung  walked  in  a  stately  way  towards  the 
door.' 

Just  as  he  reached  the  threshold,  young  Jack  pursued  him, 
and  giving  him  what  boys  call  a  running  kick  on  the  lover 
part  of  his  back,  sent  him  sprawling  into  the  passage  on  his 
hands  and  knees. 

At  any  other  time  there  would  have  been  a  laugh  at  jhi^ 

What  had  happened,  however,  made  everyone  grave  and 
serious. 

All  the  mirth  and  hilarity  was  taken  out  of  them  by  the 
loss  of  little  Emily. 

Lo  Mung  did  not  think  it  prudent  to  take  any  notice  of 
young  Jack's  conduct. 

It  would  have  been  risky  to  provoke  him  further. 

He  slunk  away  to  the  servants'  quarters,  and  refreshed 
himself  with  a  cup  of  tea. 

The  day  had  dawned  very  miserably  for  Harkaway  and 
his  party. 

Failing  to  get  any  information  out  of  Lo  Mung,  young  Jack 
and  Monday  searched  the  grounds. 

Bigamini  and  his  accomplices  were  far  away  by  this  time. 

Nothing  whatever  rewarded  them  for  their  trouble. 

It  was  extremely  painful  to  witness  the  grief  of  Hilda 
when  she  came  down,  and  the  sad  news  was  communicated 
to  her. 

In  vain  Emily  endeavoured  to  comfort  her. 

She  was  like  Rachel  crying  for  her  children,  and  refusing 
to  listen  to  the  voice  of  consolation. 

The  tables  were  changed  now. 

A  short  while  ago  it  was  Emily  who  was  mourning  the 
absence  of  her  son. 

Now,  it  was  Hilda  lamenting  the  loss  of  her  daughter. 

Mr.  Mole  was,  it  must  be  said  to  his  credit,  much  more 
shocked  at  the  disappearance  of  Emily  than  of  his  money. 

He  had  more  hidden  away  in  another  place,  if  he  wanted 
it  at  any  time. 

The  morning  passed  in  anxious  conversation  as  to  what 
was  to  be  done. 

Pike  was  despatched  to  the  police  office  in  Hong-Kong,  to 
give  notice  of  the  robbery  and  kidnapping. 

At  exactly  twelve  o'clock  Harkaway,  Harvey,  and  Mole, 
sat  down  to  lunch. 


1 80  JA  CK  HA  RICA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

Emily  and  Hilda  could  not  eat  any  thing,  they  were  so 
upset,  while  young  Jack  and  Monday  were  in  the  grounds 
with  the  doctor. 

To  his  great  surprise,  as  he  took  his  seat,  Harkaway  saw 
a  letter  on  his  plate. 

It  was  directed,  in  an  ordinary  commercial  hand,  to  "  Mr. 
Harkaway,  leader  of  the  party  staying  at  Mole's  plantation." 

"  Hullo !  "  he  cried,  "  a  letter  for  me.  How  did  it  come 
here  ? " 

That  was  a  mystery. 

Lo  Mung  was  called. 

Mole  had  not  given  him  notice  to  leave,  and  he  remained 
at  his  post. 

He  denied  any  knowledge  of  the  letter,  and  declared  that 
he  had  seen  no  one  enter  the  house. 

The  other  servants,  on  being  interrogated,  made  replies  to 
the  same  effect. 

This  caused  the  mystery  to  deepen. 

Nothing  remained  to  be  done  but  to  open  the  letter. 

Harkaway  was  a  little  nervous. 

Knowing  what  his  enemies  were  capable  of,  he  was  half 
afraid  there  might  be  some  explosive  inside. 

But  he  was  soon  reassured  on  that  point. 

The  letter  contained  a  single  sheet  of  paper,  on  which  was 
written — 

"  NOTICE. — If  the  sum  of  ^1,000  in  English  gold,  is  forth- 
coming within  three  days,  the  girl  will  be  brought  back  in 
the  night. 

"  No  watch  must  be  kept.     This  will  mean  death  ! 

"  If  any  attempt  to  arrest,  shoot,  or  otherwise  injure  the 
one  who  brings  her,  she  will  be  killed  by  a  confederate  in  the 
rear. 

"  The  money  must  be  put  in  a  canvas  bag  and  placed  at 
the  edge  of  the  well  in  the  front  garden  attached  to  Mr. 
Mole's  house. 

"  By  order  of 

"  THE  SYNDICATE. 

"  P.  S. — If  the  money  is  not  deposited  as  aforesaid,  the 
girl  will  be  poisoned." 

Jack  elevated  his  eyebrows  and  looked  up. 


ADVENTURES  IX  CHINA.  :  : 

"This  is  vfaat  I  caB  a  nice,  pleasant  letter,"  he  exclaimed. 
^  What  is  it?1*  asked  Harvey,  breathlessly. 
He  fancied  that  it  related  to  his  daughter! 
"The  plot  thickens.     Shall  I  read  it  aloud?"   replied 
Harkawav. 

-  Do  so,  please." 

In  a  clear  voice  Jack  read  the  document. 

-  Thank  heaven,  she  fives.     My  little  girl  is  in  the  bond 
cf  the  living!"  cried  Harvey. 

-  Who  is  at  the  bottom  of  "this  vflbriny  ?**  ejaculated  Mole. 
"  It  can't  be  Houston." 

~  No."  answered  Jack.  "  He  is  at  sea  with  the  pirates,  bat 
he  has  friends  with  whom  he  communicates  on  shore.  He 
may  have  instigated  the  outrage.19 

**  I  have  not  the  money,"  remarked  Harvey.     "  It  is  such 
large  sum,  or  I  would  pay  as  demanded,  and  get  her 


"  We  can  raise  the  cash  at  the  bank  within  the  given 
time,"  replied  Harkaway.  "  but  a  question  arises." 

"I  know  what  you  are  going  to  say.  Is  it  advisable? 
May  we  not  be  tricked  ?" 

"Precisely.  How  can  we  trust  to  the  good  faith  and 
honour  of  these  thieves  ?  " 

-  Emily  is  so  dear  to  her  mother  that  she  wul  sell  her 
jewels  —  do  any  thing,  in  fact,  to  recover  her  darling.* 

"Tell  her  we  are  going  to  pay,  but,  in  reality,  we  wffl  play 
the  rascals  a  trick,"  said  Harkaway. 

"What  is  your  suggestion?" 

"  Allow  a  day  to  pass  to  make  the  fellows  who  form  this 
horrid  syndicate  believe  we  have  been  to  the  bank  to  get 
the  coin.'" 

"Yes.     What  next  ?"  queried  Harvey  eagerly. 

-  Fill  a  bag  with  small  stones,  put  it  where  he  mentions, 
and  fie  in  wait  for  him."' 

Harvey  shook  his  head. 

"That  won't  do,   dear  boy,"  he  ezdaimed.     "We  may 
capture  or  kffl  him,  but  it  wffl  seal  the  fate  of  little  Emily."" 
"  Perhaps  you  are  r^ht." 
"I  know  I   am.     The  letter  contains  a  threat  to  that 


"We  must  raise  the  money  aomchria,  and  as  soon  as 
possftfe,"  cried  Harkaway.  "  I  wffl  help  yon  to  the  best  of 
myaKBty." 


1 8  2  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WA  Y  A  ND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  And  I  also,  in  spite  of  my  recent  loss,"  said  Mole. 

"  How  can  I  thank  you  ?  "  exclaimed  Harvey.  "  It  is  more 
than  I  have  any  right  to  expect." 

"Not  at  all.  You  should  command  my  last  shilling  if 
you  wanted  it,"  replied  Harkaway. 

"  And  I  would  actually  pawn  my  wooden  legs  for  you," 
said  Mole,  smiling. 

Harvey  was  much  affected  at  these  proofs  of  their  friend- 
ship. 

Jack  got  up  and  shook  him  cordially  by  the  hand. 

"  We'd  do  any  thing  for  you,  old  chappie,"  he  ex- 
claimed. "  Friendship  with  us  is  not  a  name ;  it's  a  solid 
fact." 

"  I'll  go  and  tell  Hilda.  It  will  relieve  her  mind,"  said 
Harvey. 

"  Do  so.  Mole  and  I  will  drive  into  Hong- Kong  this 
afternoon  and  get  the  money." 

"  Again  and  again  I  thank  you." 

"  In  a  few  days,  when  we  have  recovered  little  Emily, 
we  shall  be  on  board  our  ship  on  our  way  to  the  magic 
island." 

"That  is  so." 

"  Hurrah  for  Greece,  the  treasure,  and  our  new  friend 
Spirillo." 

"  So  say  all  of  us,"  cried  Mole. 

Harvey  went  out  of  the  room. 

He  was  in  such  a  hurry  to  see  his  wife  and  tell  her  of  the 
good  news,  that  he  did  not  did  not  see  a  form  in  the 
passage. 

It  was  Lo  Mung. 

He  had  been  listening,  and  had  heard  everything  that  had 
been  said  in  the  luncheon-room. 

Consequently  he  was  well  aware  that  Harkaway  and 
Mole  were  going  to  Hong-Kong  to  raise  a  thousand  pounds. 

They  would  bring  it  home  with  them  in  the  carriage. 

This  might  be  important  news  for  his  employer,  Big- 
amini. 

The  spy  determined  to  discharge  himself,  and  go  to  the 
Lake  House. 

He  had  been  threatened  with  instant  dismissal,  and  nrght 
get  it  at  any  moment. 

Why  not  be  first  in  the  field  ? 

As  Harvey  left  the  room  he,  stepped  in. 


ADVEA'TURES  Of  Cff/A'A.  183 

14  We  do  not  want  any  thing,"  said  Mole,  when  he  saw 
him. 

-  Me  wantee,"  was  the  reply. 
You  can  go.    Don't  interrupt  me  when  I  am  trikmgtoa 


"  Me  been  beatee." 

-  You  were  paid  for  it."  Harkaway  exclaimed. 
"  Havee  mv  earee  chewee  bv  monkee." 
"More  money!" 

"  Boy  kickee.     No  payee  for  that." 

"Look  here !  I've  had  enough  of  this  system  of  extort- 
ing money.  Get  out!" 

-  If  Mister  Molee  tellee  me,  aflee  rightee,"  said  Lo  Mung, 
with  a  cunning  look. 

"  By  all  means.  I  don't  need  yon,"  answered  the  pro- 
fessor, "  there  is  something  fishy  about  this  business." 

"Menotgofishee." 

"  I  believe  you  are  in  it.    Go.    Cot !     Clear  out  I " 

"Giveewagee." 

"Yon  Johnnies  are  all  on  the  make,"  cried  Mole.  "I 
never  saw  such  a  lot.  What  do  you  do  with  your  money  ?" 

"Smokee  opium  and  gamble.     Eatee  bird-nest  soup." 

"  Yes,  and  poppy  dogs  and  rats.  I  know  you.  Be  off. 
Yon  can  call  for  your  wages  in  a  week.  I've  got  no  money. " 

"Wantee  now." 

"  I've  been  robbed.     If  yon  don't  go,  111  kick  you  out ! " 

"  Can  tee  vellee  welL    Gottee  wooden  leggee," 

"You  impudent  scoundrel !  If  I  could  get  at  yon,  I'd— 
I'd  pulverise  yon — reduce  you  to  dust— squash  you,  as  I 
would  a  •iulbcut.  with  my  foot! " 

"Payee  up." 

-Not  I.     Get  it  as  yon  can." 

"I'm  a  wonderer  that  yon  are  not  an  ashamer.  Yon  bai- 
lee poor  Chinaman.^ 

"Gd 
thieving,  lying  skunk.' 

fc  Wooden  leggee-     He,  he !  walk  on  two  sticks." 

«•  Disciple  of  Confucius,  begone,  or  beware  of  the  con- 
sequence. I'm  hot-tempered  and  valiant." 

"  Foolee  when  drinkee." 

Lo  Mnng  grinned  as  he  said  this. 

Mr.  Mole  fell  back  in  his  chair,  gasping,  with  a 
of  too  much  lunch,  and  indignation. 


184  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"  Am  I  to  stand  this  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Certainly  not,  sir,"  replied  Harkaway. 

"  Then  eject  summarily  that  impudent  Celestial,  or  I  shall 
draw  on  him  whatever  the  consequences  may  be." 

"  Don't  do  that.     Murder,  you  know " 

"  Bosh !  Is  it  a  murder,  to  kill  a  wretch  like  that  ?  * 
Mole  interrupted. 

"  They  would  call  it  so  in  Hong-Kong." 

"  But  the  vile  brute  is  not  civilised — he's  not  worth  his 
salt." 

"  They  say  they  discovered  the  art  of  printing,  and  that 
of  making  gunpowder,  thousands  of  years  ago." 

"  I  know  they  do,  but  don't  you  believe  it,"  said  Mole- 
"  It's  all  a  confounded  lie." 

"  If  so,  they've  degenerated,"  Harvey  remarked. 

"Very  much  so,"  replied  Harkaway. 

"  Give  him  a  send-off ;  be  your  own  chucker-out,  Hark- 
away  ;  drive  the  bally  rascal  away,  or  I  shall  bore  a  hole 
through  his  infernal  carcase,  which  is  only  fit  for  crows  to 
feed  on." 

Lo  Mung  waved  a  fan  he  held  in  his  hand. 

The  Chinese  high  and  low  are  never  without  a  fan. 

"  Fanqui  !  "  he  hissed. 

This  was  a  term  of  reproach. 

It  meant  "  Foreign  devil." 

"  D'ye  hear  him  ?  "  shouted  Mole. 

"  Hark  at  the  hard  words  he's  giving  me.  He's  calling  me 
a  foreign  devil  !  " 

Unable  to  restrain  himself,  he  threw  a  tumbler  at  him. 
It  was  full  of  claret. 

Striking  Lo  Mung  on  the  side  of  the  face,  it  caused  him  to 
beat  a  precipitate  retreat. 

His  movements  were  expedited  considerably.  t 

As  he  wiped  the  blood  from  a  gash  in  his  face,  he  swore  a», 
bitter  oath  in  Chinese. 

"  Me  be  a  revenger,"  he  muttered.  "  Chinaman  good 
man  allee  samee.  Englishman  foreign  devil  !  " 

Scarcely  had  he  disappeared  when  young  Jack  and 
Monday  walked  into  the  room. 

"  Got  any  grub  to  spare  governor  ? "  asked  young  Jack. 

"  Heaps.     Duck,  fowl,  and " 

"  Don't!  "  interrupted  young  Jack.  "  I'm  as  hungry  as  a 
hunter.  In  fact,  I  could  eat  a  horse  and  chase  the  rider. 


-  Where  have  you  been  ?  ™  enquired  Harkaway. 

"Out  prospecting.  Monday  and  I  have  found  tracks, 
haven't  we,  old  ivory  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sare.     Urn  right  enough,"  replied  Monday. 

-  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  " 

-  We  are  going  on  the  war-path,  sare,  to  find  little  Emily," 
said  Monday. 

44  It's  true,  dad,"  remarked  young  Jack.  "  We  mean  biz, 
2nd  good  biz,  too. 

"Realy?- 

"  If  yon  don't  see  us  for  forty-eight  hours,  don't  mater 
about  us.  We  shall  be  all  right.™ 

«But  -  " 

"  Let  me  sit  down  and  fill  up  the  corners.  You  can  talk, 
dear  old  gar,  while  we  are  eating." 

"Go  ahead." 

"  I  intend  to.  See  me  wire  in.  It's  no  use  going  on  die 
war-path  with  an  empty  stomach  Is  it,  Monday  ?" 

"  Dat  are  so,  sare,"  replied  the  Prince  of  LimbL  "The 
neatest  foe  in  aO  oeaikm  am  de  full  belly.  What  yon  say. 
Mast"  Jack?" 

"  No  breakfast,  no  man  ;  no  dinner,  no  man,"  replied  Hark* 
awav. 


'That's  me.    Yah,  yah  !"  laughed  Monday. 

,    y""*  J^  ^ 

themselves  abundantly. 


He  aad  young  Jack  sat  down  to  the  table  and  helped 


The  way  they  ate  was  a  caution  to  vegetarians. 

Nothing  seemed  to  come  amiss,  and  they  drank  a  bottle  of 


Tm  going  to  fill  a  knapsack  with  food,  and  a  keg  with 
water,1"  said  young  Jack.  -  That  will  do  for  us." 

"Hold  on!!    Where  are  you  going  ?  "  inquired  Harkxvay. 

"We  don't  know  yet,  but  we've  found  tracks." 

"  I  don't  understand  you." 

"  Monday  has  an  eye  like  a  hawk.  There  was  a  heavy 
dew  last  night,  and  we  have  discovered  footsteps.  Han 
tracks,  isn't  it  ?  " 

-Where  do  they  lead  to?" 

"We  are  going  to  find  out,  if  we  can.  Our  purpose  is  to 
get  back  my  sweetheart,  little  Emily." 

"AD  right,  my  boy.    I  honour  you  for  the  noble  aeati- 

but  we  shafl  get  her  widbowt  jam  mteneation." 
Have  you  had  any  news?" 


1 86  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  Read  that  precious  epistle." 

Young  Jack  took  the  letter  which  his  father  had  found  on 
his  plate. 

He  read  it  carefully. 

"  Dad,"  he  said,  with  a  knowing  look,  "  in  my  opinion, 
this  is  all  kid.  There  is  too  much  of  the  young  goat  about 
it." 

"  How  so  ?  " 

"  The  syndicate,  as  they  call  themselves,  will  take  your 
money,  but  they  won't  give  us  back  little  Emily." 

"  Why  not  ?  " 

"  They  will  keep  on  holding  her  to  ransom,  or  send  her  to 
sea  in  the  pirate  junk." 

"  With  Hunston  ?  " 

"  His  agent,  Bigamini,  is  doing  this,  don't  you  fret.  No 
fear  about  that,  I'm  sure." 

Harkaway  looked  at  Harvey  and  Mole. 

"  There  is  some  sense  in  what  he  says,"  he  remarked. 

"  I'm  only  a  young  one,  but  my  head's  level,  dad.  Let 
Monday  and  I  go  on  the  war-path." 

"  As  you  like,  but  I  shall  go  to  Hong- Kong  presently  and 
get  the  money." 

"  Do  as  you  like,  father  ;  I  want  to  go  after  Emily.  You 
won't  get  her  your  way." 

"  I  mean  to  try,  anyhow." 

"  We  will  both  try — I  in  my  way,  you  in  yours  ;  and  perhaps 
between  us  we  shall  pull  it  off,"  replied  young  Jack. 

"  Keep  out  of  danger.  You  do  not  know  how  many  foes 
you  have  to  fight  against,"  observed  his  father. 

lt  We  will  be  as  prudent  and  careful  as  we  can." 

fi  Keep  um  eyes  open,"  said  Monday. 

When  lunch  was  finished,  Harkaway  and  Harvey  went 
to  the  city  to  get  the  money  demanded  in  the  mysterious 
letter. 

This  was  written  in  a  disguised  hand  by  Bigamini  him- 
self. 

Young  Jack  and  Monday  looked  to  their  knives  and  pistols,. 
and  then  made  a  start. 

They  had  noticed  footsteps  in  a  certain  part  of  the  tea- 
garden,  where,  at  that  time,  no  one  was  employed. 

Outside  the  garden  was  a  track  of  sandy  soil,  on  which 
grew  some  stunted  trees. 

Here  they  lost  sight  of  the  tracks. 


ADVENTURES  IX  CfflA'A.  187 

Bat  ibey  saw  something  which  arrested  tbeir  attention. 

Two  Chinamen  were  sitting  under  one  of  these  trees, 
engaged  in  conversation. 

Occasionally  they  drank  something  out  of  a  black  bottle. 

It  looked  suspiciously  like  European  vine. 

In  fact,  a  closer  inspection  showed  a  label  on  which  was 
•  -  ::--.  ~.----- 

Monday  was  the  first  to  discover  these  Mongolians. 

**  Look,**  he  whispered,  ~  two  Johnnies.  We  listen,  sare, 
and  hear  what  um  say." 

-This  is  a  good  idea,*1  replied  young  Jack. 

"See  am  fat  one?  That  look  to  me  like  Lo  Mung,  who 
I  think  very  bad  man." 

"So  do  L  He's  an  artful  customer.  Yes,  it  is  Lo. 
Creep  op  gently.  Don't  disturb  them." 

"Um  not  make  little  sound.     Quiet  as  mouse.     Hush  ! " 

Jack  and  Monday  went  on  their  hands  and  knees,  succeed- 
ing in  getting  behind  the  two  Crintals  without  being  per- 

C  r :  v-  - 

The  jfcrijlr*.  of  Confucius  wen  CfMeully  very  jofiy . 

They  laughed  and  chatted  together  at  their  ease. 

The  sips  they  took  from  the  bottle  of  sherry  elevated  their 
sprits  and  loosened  their  tongues. 

Monday  and  young  Jack  Bstened  jOu-uilitUj. 

"Yon  givee  my  nut-star's  letter  ?"  asked  one,  who  was  no 
other  than  Hi  LL 

Bigammi  had  sent  him  with  the  letter  to  Lo  Mung,  who  was 
to  put  it  where  Harkaway  would  see  it. 

Accordingly  he  had  placed  it  on  his  plate,  where  it  was 
found. 

"  He  findee  it  allee  rightee,"  replied  Lo  Mung. 

"  Where  you  going  to  workee  ?  You  say  yoa  leavee  Man- 
darin Mole  for  goodee." 

-  Me  come  to  your  master  for  a  dayee  or  two  ;  then  I  go 
to   Hong-Kong,   havee    smokee  opium    joint,    and    drink 
Tangiers  whisky  for  drunkee." 

"  Drinkee  for  drankee,  velle  goodlers,"  remarked  Hi  Li, 
with  an  appreciative  nod. 

-  You  comee  with  me,"  exclaimed  Lo  Mung.     "We  both 
have  what  foreign  devils  call  a  highee  spree  time." 

-  In  three  days  I  readee.     Waitee  first  to  gettee  money 
for  little  girL     My  master  boss  payee  extra  for  hold  tongue, 
and  watch  Missy  '. 


1 88  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  Alice  rightee  ;  we  be  going  together.  You  got  to  make 
haste  back  now  ?  " 

"  No.  Master  at  home.  He  watch  Missy  Hysa  and 
little  girl,  too.  Me  restee.  Finish  bottle." 

"  Not  much  left,  but  me  got  another  in  my  pocketer." 

"  Ha,  you  clever  fellow,"  cried  Hi  Li.  "  Me  likee  you 
vellee  much  for  friendlers." 

"  We  always  were  good  friendlers,"  replied  Lo  Mung. 
"  How  your  Missy  Hysa  go  on  now  ?  " 

"  She  cry  all  day,  master  beat  her  so.  She  try  gettee  away, 
and  swear  for  revenge.  Either  she  killee  master,  or  he 
drownee  her  in  the  water." 

They  paused  to  empty  the  first  bottle  and  begin  on  the 
second. 

The  effect  of  the  wine  upon  them  was  to  make  them  sleepy. 

Lo  Mung  began  to  sing  a  verse  of  a  Chinese  song  in  a  low 
and  not  unmusical  voice. 

For  a  brief  space  Hi  Li  accompanied  him. 

The  effort,  however,  proved  too  much  for  them, and  finishing 
the  sherry,  they  vowed  eternal  friendship. 

Then  they  leant  back  against  the  trunk  of  the  tree  and  went 
t^  aleep. 

Monday  and  young  Jack  retreated  to  a  short  distance. 

They  wanted  to  talk  together  and  discuss  what  they  had 
heard. 

All  the  time,  however,  they  kept  their  gaze  fixed  upon  the 
two  unconscious  Chinamen. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  Lo  Mung  what  I  call  him — big  rascal  thief,"  replied 
Monday,  in  an  angry  tone. 

"  The  other  is  a  friend  of  his,  and  the  servant  of  the  man 
who  has  stolen  Emily." 

"  Certain  sure  ob  that,  sare." 

"  Well,  all  we  have  to  do  is  to  follow  the  villains,  and  we 
shall  find  out  where  my  little  sweetheart  is,  and  who  has  got 
her." 

"  That  de  ticket  for  soup,  boss  ! "  cried  Monday. 

"  How  fortunate  we  followed  the  tracks  and  came  upon  these 
tippling  Chinamen." 

"  I  knew  we  should  make  a  discovery.  You  and  I  de  boys 
to  do  it,  Mast'  Jack." 

"  Yes,"  said  our  young  hero.  "  I  think  we  are  about  as 
clever  as  most  people." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  189 

"What  we  do  now?"  asked  Monday.  "Got  to  wait  till 
Johnnies  wake  up." 

"  That's  a  nuisance.  I  hate  inaction,  but  it  won't  do  to 
scare  them.  They  must  have  no  idea  of  our  presence. 
Confound  it !  Perhaps  it  will  be  hours  before  they  sleep 
off  the  effects  of  that  sherry." 

**  Never  mind.  I  got  lily  drop  of  brandy  in  a  flask.  You 
have  water." 

"  And  Tve  a  bundle  of  cigarettes,"  put  in  Jack. 

"  That  fine.     We  enjoy  ourselves." 

They  did  so,  and,  after  smoking  for  a  time,  Monday,  who 
was  a  man  of  resources,  found  a  pack  of  cards  in  his  pocket. 

A  game  of  euchre  for  a  small  stake  helped  to  pass  the 
time  away. 

The  sun  was  declining  in  the  west. 

But  the  two  Chinamen  still  slept 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 
LITTLE  EMILY'S  CAPTIVITY. 

IT  was  several  hours  after  the  arrival  of  little  Emily  at  the 
Lake  House  before  she  recovered  from  the  effects  of  the 
soporific  drug  which  had  been  administered  to  her. 

She  was  placed  in  bed  with  Hysa. 

Bigamini  admonished  his  wife  to  take  care  of  her. 

He  and  his  partners  in  crime,  Schneider  and  Blowhard, 
retired  to  an  inner  room,  where  they  gambled  with  cards,  and 
drank  brandy  until  long  after  daybreak. 

When  they  were  tired  out,  they  threw  themselves  on  some 
mats,  and  snatched  a  few  hours*  feverish  sleep. 

About  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  they  woke  up,  par- 
took of  a  light  breakfast,  and  separated. 

The  Dutchman  and  die  Englishman  were  rowed  to  the 
landing-stage  by  Hi  LL 

They  bad  to  return  to  Hong-Kong  to  attend  to  some  busi- 


The  money  they  had  robbed  Mr.  Mole  of  had  been  equally 
divided  between  them. 

But  they  did  not  take  away  so  much  as  they  had  expected. 
They  had  been  playing  for  high  stakes  at  the  game  of  poker. 


1 90  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

Bigamini  was  an  expert  at  this,  and  he  also  knew  how  tc 
cheat.  He  had  risen  from  the  table  a  heavy  winner. 

It  was  generally  the  case  when  they  gambled  together. 

His  partners  had  their  suspicions,  but  his  sleight-of-hand 
was  so  clever,  that  they  could  not  find  him  out. 

If  they  had  done  so,  blood  would  have  most  assuredly  been 
shed. 

These  wretches  would  have  drawn  their  pistols  upon  him, 
and  he,  of  course,  would  have  defended  himself. 

There  was  always  a  chance  some  day  of  this  kind  of  thing 
occurring. 

It  very  often  happens  that  thieves  fall  out  and  kill  one 
another. 

When  Schneider  and  Blowhard  had  departed,  Bigamini 
went  into  one  of  the  verandahs  of  his  strangely  built  house. 

Here  was  a  chair,  a  fishing-rod,  tackle,  and  an  earthen  ware 
jar  filled  with  bait. 

Angling  was  his  favourite  pastime,  and  the  lake  was  full  of 
various  kinds  of  fine  fish,  weighing  from  an  ounce  to  five 
and  six  pounds. 

He  liked  to  eat  these  lake  fish,  fresh  out  of  the  water,  at 
any  time  of  the  day. 

Many  hours  did  he  pass  r.t  his  country  house  in  angling 
tor  the  finny  prey. 

He  was  particularly  lucky  this  morning,  for  the  fish  bit 
freely,  and  he  caught  some  fine  specimens. 

"  Ha,  ha  !  "  he  laughed.  "  I  am  doing  well  in.this  country, 
and  have  made  a  nice  little  pile  of  money,  but  I  shall  not 
stay  here.  This  is  not  a  country  for  a  white  man  to  live  in. 
I  want  just  enough  money  to  support  me  comfortably,  and  I 
will  seek  a  fresh  land.  I  am  tired  of  Hysa,  and  will  marry 
again." 

The  rascal  was  a  most  determined  bigamist,  and  did  not 
seem  to  care  how  many  women  he  betrayed. 

He  had  had  a  good  many  wives  already. 

In  fact,  he  was  a  sort  of  modern  Bluebeard. 

"  If  I  get  that  money  for  the  girl's  ransom/'  he  added, 
talking  to  himself,  "  it  will  stock  me  up.  Why  should  Schneider 
and  Blowhard  have  any  of  it  ?  They  might  be  killed  easily." 

His  mind  now  turned  upon  murdering  his  confederates. 

There  was  no  crime  too  bad  for  him  to  commit. 

He  was  roused  from  his  evil  meditations  by  the  sound  of 
little  Emily's  voice. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  191 

She  had  woke  up,  and  was  frightened  at  finding  herself  in 
a  strange  place  with  a  Chinawoman  she  did  not  know. 

"  Where  am  I  ?  "  she  demanded,     "  This  is  not  my  house  " 

"  You  are  with  friends  who  will  not  harm  you,"  replied 
Hvsa,  kindly. 

The  latter  felt  sorry  for  the  child. 

She  did  not  care  to  aid  and  abet  her  husband  in  his  crim- 
inal practices. 

••  I  want  ray  mamma  and  papa.  Let  me  go,"  continued 
Emily,  **  you  have  no  right  to  keep  me  here." 

'•  Soon  you  shall  go  homee,  but  not  now.     Waitee  bitee." 

Emily  got  up  from  the  bed — she  had  not  been  undressed 
— and  began  to  cry  bitterly. 

Giving  her  some  tea  and  rice,  Hysa  endeavoured  to  console 
and  soothe  her. 

She  ate  and  drank,  but  her  tears  did  not  cease,  nor  did  she 
stop  her  lamentations. 

Bigamini  put  down  his  fishing-rod,  and  walked  into  the 
sleeping  apartment. 

"  Stop  that  noise,"  he  exclaimed,  "  or  111  make  you." 

The  child  looked  curiously  at  him  with  her  big  eyes. 

"  Did  you  take  me  away  from  my  home  ?  "  she  asked. 

"Yes,  I  did." 

"  What  harm  have  I  done  you  ?  " 

"  I  want  to  make  money,  and  I  have  told  your  father,  if  he 
will  give  me  a  certain  sum,  you  shall  be  sent  back." 

"  You  are  a  bold,  bad  man,"  said  Emily,  bravely. 

"  Every  body  knows  that — no  one  better  than  myself,  little 
miss,"  replied  Bigamini. 

"When  shall  I  go  back ?" 

"  To-morrow,  perhaps.  It  all  depends.  I  shall  go  to-night, 
and  see  if  the  cash  is  waiting  for  me.  Stop  crying." 

"  I  can't  help  it,"  answered  Emily.  "  Is  it  not  dreadful 
to  be  taken  away  like  this?  What  made  me  sleep  so 
fast  ?  " 

"  A  drug  I  gave  you." 

"  Oh,  what  a  way  my  mother  and  father  will  be  in.  Do 
you  think  they  will  get  the  money  ?  " 

"  They  must,  if  they  care  about  you." 

"Our  enemies  are  very  cruel.  Only  a  little  while  ago, 
young  Jack  Harkaway  was  taken  from  us.  Something  is 
always  happening." 

Bigamini  sat  down. 


192  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

The  child  was  standing  before  him  with  a  tea-cup  in  her 
hand. 

Hysa  was  behind  her,  with  her  face  rigid. 

It  seemed  as  if  she  had  made  up  her  mind  to  protect  little 
Emily  to  the  extent  of  her  power. 

"  Now,  I  want  to  talk  seriously  to  you,"  exclaimed  Biga- 
mini, 

He  had  a  small  bamboo  cane  in  his  hand. 

This  he  swished  through  the  air  threateningly. 

The  girl  winced,  as  if  she  were  afraid  he  was  going  to  beat 
her. 

Instinctively  she  retreated  a  few  paces  towards  Hysa. 

Looking  up  in  her  face  for  protection,  she  took  her  hand. 

There  was  a  dangerous  flash  in  Hysa's  eyes. 

"  You  shall  not  strike  her  !  "  said  Hysa. 

"  Hold  your  tongue !  Who's  speaking  to  you  ? "  cried 
Bigamini,  angrily. 

His  small,  fishy  eyes  turned  green. 

"  I  say  you  shall  not !  "  was  the  firm  reply. 

"  You  can't  stop  me  !  Perhaps  you  will  get  a  thrashing 
you  won't  like.  It  would  not  be  the  first  time,  you  know. 
Be  silent !  I'm  talking  to  the  girl,  not  you." 

Hysa  made  no  answer;  but  she  kept  her  gaze  fixed  on 
him. 

"  Do  you  know  the  meaning  and  virtue  of  an  oath  ? " 
asked  Bigamini,  addressing  the  child. 

"  Of  course  I  do,"  replied  Emily,  who  was  astonishingly 
clever  and  vivacious  for  her  age. 

"That  is  gratifying." 

"You  do  not  suppose  for  a  moment  that  I  have  been 
brought  up  like  a  savage  ?  " 

"  If  you  take  an  oath  and  break  it,  what  then  ?  " 

"  I  shall  have  committed  a  very  great  sin,  and  acted  very 
dishonourably.  If  I  swear  not  to  do  a  thing,  I  must  keep 
my  word,  come  what  may,  or  I  am  disgraced  in  the  sight  of 
heaven  and  man." 

'Bigamini  smiled. 

"  That  is  it,  exactly.  I  see  your  are  no  fool ! "  he 
exclaimed.  "  You  are  a  credit  to  your  bringing  up." 

"  I  ought  to  be,  considering  that  my  parents  have  taken 
great  pains  with  me,"  said  Emily,  proudly. 

"  Should  I  take  you  back  to  Mr.  Mole's  to-morrow,  or  the 
next  day,  or  the  day  after  that,"  continued  Bigamini,  "  you 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA . 

most  will  to  me,  in  the   sight  erf  Heaven,  that  von  wfll 
not  tell  anyone  where  you  have  been  or  whom  you  have 


Emfly  looked  at  him  with  wide-open  eyes  and 
erebrows. 

'  ~  Why,"  she  rejoined,  "  that  will  be  the  very  first  thing  I 
shall  be  asked  by  every  body.  They  wul  want  to  catch  and 
parish  you." 

~  For  that  precise  reason,  you  most  swear  not  to  teXL" 

-  Oh !     I  can't  do  that.     It  is  absurd  to  ask  me." 
~  I  shall  whip  you  until  YOU  do."* 

~  What !  whip  me  ?  You  dare  not  do  k !  My  father  and 
Jack  Harkaway  would  kill  you,  if  they  knew  it,"  said  little 
Emilv. 

She  spoke  boldly,  fearlessly,  even  defiantly. 

Young  as  she  was,  she  had  seen  &Uange  sights,  and  been 
ihroogh  many  perils. 

-  If  you  are  obstinate,"  Bigamini  replied,  "you  wiD  never 
£e  your  friends  again." 

**  What  win  you  do  ?" 

K  Cut  your  throat,  tie  a  stone  round  your  neck,  and  throw 
_  ou  into  the  lake,  as  I  would  a  dead  dog." 
Emily  looked  at  him  with  ineffable  scorn. 

-  Do  YOU  call  yourself  a  man?"  she  asked. 

-  Most  decidedly  I  do,"  said  the  wretch. 

call  you  a 
;  and  not  w 

"Will  you  swear?1 

-Xo!" 

Bigamini  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  Emfly  dang 
H    -  - 

The  woman  bent  down  and  whispered  in  her  ear. 

"You  had  best  do  as  be  teDs  TOO."  she  •umwred.  «He 
wffl  half  kill  you  else:  I  know  his  temper* 

"  It  is  not  right  that  I  should  do  so,"  repGed  Bnry. 

-Saveyounelt- 

Tl^imiiii  caught  her  by  the  arm,  and  wrenched  her  away 
from  her  yifirt^d1***^ 

The  cane  was  raised  in  the  air. 

In  another  moment  it  would  have  Intel  opoo  her 
shoulders. 

Hysa  caught  it  in  her  hand. 

«  You  shan  not  harm  the  chfld!  -  she  cried. 


brute!    You  are 
Tartar,  and*  not  worthy  the  name  of  man." 


1 94  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

With  a  curse,  her  husband  gave  her  a  blow  on  th?  side  of 
the  head. 

Uttering  a  piercing  shriek  she  sank  on  her  knees,  with 
bowed  head,  reeling  from  side  to  side. 

Emily  was  terribly  alarmed. 

She  had  seen  fighting  between  men,  but  she  had  never  be- 
fore beheld  a  man  strike  a  woman. 

To  her  young,  delicate,  and  sensitive  mind,  it  was  incon- 
ceivably dreadful. 

The  next  moment  the  cane  fell  on  her  back. 

It  seem  to  cut  into  her  flesh  like  a  knife. 

"  Oh,  spare  me  ! "  she  exclaimed.  "  I  will  swear.  Spare 
me !  Let  me  take  the  oath  ! " 

He  released  her  with  a  grim  smile, 

"  I  thought  you  would  come  to  your  senses,"  he  said. 
"  I  have  a  peculiar  way  of  persuading  obstinate  people, 
especially  women  and  children." 

Emily  stopped  her  tears  and  choked  back  her  sobs. 

It  was  very  hard  for  her  to  do  so. 

She  had  always  been  petted  and  spoiled.  Never  in  hei 
life  had  she  even  been  so  much  as  slapped  by  her  mother, 
and  it  was  seldom  that  she  received  a  cross  word. 

"  Repeat  after  me  this,"  continued  Bigamini :  "  I  solemnly 
swear,  before  heaven,  as  I  hope  for  happiness  hereafter,  that 
I  will  never  reveal  to  anyone  whatever,  where  I  have  been  de- 
tained, and  that  my  mouth  shall  be  closed  as  to  all  that  has 
taken,  or  will  take  place,  since  my  abduction." 

The  girl  repeated  the  formula  in  a  clear  voice. 

"  Is  that  binding  on  your  conscience  ? "  he  asked. 

"  Nothing  could  be  more  so,"  she  rejoined.  "  If  I  broke 
my  oath,  I  should  think  my  eternal  salvation  was  in  danger." 

"  Very  good.  Make  your  short  stay  here  as  comfortable 
as  possible.  I  am  not  a  hard  man  to  deal  with,  far  from  it ; 
but  I  will  be  obeyed  in  my  own  house." 

He  walked  away,  and,  feeling  tired  with  his  night's  dis- 
sipation, laid  himself  down  again  on  the  mats  in  the  adjoin- 
ing room. 

"  Oh  !  my  head,"  gasped  Hysa.     "  Givee  water  !  " 

Little  Emily  poured  some  from  a  pitcher  into  a  cup,  which 
Hysa  drank  e'agerly. 

She  rose  and  staggered  to  a  chair,  with  the  child's  help. 

"Your  husband  is  a  brute  to  you,"  remarked  Emily, 
a  Why  do  you  not  leave  him  ? " 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  195 

"  He  watchee  too  muchee.  Alice  samee  as  sleepee  with 
one  eye  open.  Hi  Li  watchee  too,"  answered  Hysa. 

"Who  is  he?" 

"  The  servant-man  who  waitee  on  us  and  takee  care  of  the 
boatee.  He  gone  out  now.  We  got  two  boatee  ;  he  havee 
one  other  at  the  steppees  below." 

"  If  your  husband  sleeps  now,  we  might  get  away,"  sug- 
gested Emily,  in  whose  breast  a  new  hope  dawned. 

••  Bigamini  artful ,  we  see  presently.  No  hurree.  He 
killee  if  catchee." 

•'  Is  that  his  name  ?  "  asked  Emily,  in  deep  suprise. 

This  was  indeed  a  revelation  to  her. 

She  knew  that  her  father  and  Harkaway  thought  Biga- 
mini, after  Hunston,  the  most  despicable  scoundrel  in  the 
world. 

Lately  she  had  heard  a  good  deal  about  him. 

"  He  born  in  Europe,"  said  Hysa,  "  Long  wayee  off ; 
across  the  big  sea.  English  call  himself,  likee  you,  missee." 

"  He  is  an  awful  villain  !  "  cried  Emily.  u  However  could 
you  have  married  him  ?  " 

"  Me  not  knowee  ;  tellee  he  lovee.  Woman's  heart  tender, 
foolish." 

"  He  does  not  display  any  love  or  affection  towards  you. 
Do  you  mean  that  you  are  not  aware  that  he  is  a  murderer 
and  a  thief  ?  " 

"  Livee  here  alonee ;  no  friends.     Not  see  what  he  do." 

"  Oh !  do  try  to  get  away,  and  take  me  with  you." 

"  Me  tryee  soon." 

Hysa  went  on  tip-toe  to  the  door  of  the  next  room,  and 
looked  at  her  husband. 

He  appeared  to  be  sleeping  placidly  on  the  mats. 

But  she  understood  perfectly  well  that  there  was  no  depen- 
dence to  be  placed  upon  him. 

While  pretending  to  be  asleep,  he  might  be  wide-awake, 
listening  to  all  that  was  being  said. 

Emily,  child-like,  thought  it  would  be  very  easy  to  get  away, 
and  was  eager  to  make  the  attempt. 

She  had  every  confidence  in  the  long-suffering  Hysa,  who, 
she  saw,  was  not  a  partner  in  her  miserable  husband's  crime. 

Like  many  poor  women  who  are  wedded  to  bad  men,  she 
was  a  victim. 

It  did  not  occur  to  Emily  that  she  might  be  miles  away 
from  Mr.  Mole's  plantation. 


196  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

All  she  wanted  was  to  get  on  the  land  again. 

By  persevering  inquiry,  she  felt  sure  that  she  would  be 
directed  to  her  home. 

Hysa  could  help  her,  and  in  the  Chinawoman  she  placed 
her  trust. 

After  waiting  ten  minutes,  Hysa  returned  to  Emily. 

She  put  her  finger  to  her  lips  to  enjoin  caution. 

"  Hush  !  "  she  whispered ;  "  he  is  a  sleeper.  We  tryee  to 
run  awayee." 

"  Have  you  anything  to  fight  with,  if  he  wakes  up  ? "  ask- 
ed Emily. 

"  Nothing  but  knifee.     He  gottee  pistolee." 

"  Oh,  my  dear  friend,  I  hope  sincerely  I  am  not  exposing 
you  to  any  danger  ?  " 

"  No  matter.  If  I  die,  I  be  at  peace.  No  happee  here," 
sighed  the  poor  woman. 

"  I  hope  it  will  be  all  right,"  continued  Emily. 

"Come.     We  tryee  quick.     Hi  Li  might  be  back." 

Taking  Emily's  hand,  Hysa  led  her  to  the  verandah  facing 
the  shore. 

Here  a  flight  of  steps  descended  to  the  water  level. 

A  boat  was  moored  to  one  of  the  rungs  of  the  wooden 
ladder. 

It  was  a  terribly  anxious  moment. 

Little  Emily  felt  her  heart  beat  wildly,  and  she  paused  pale 
as  a  lily. 

They  went  down  the  steps,  Hysa  leading  the  way,  Emily 
following  close  behind. 

The  sun  was  now  high  in  the  heavens ;  a  gentle  breeze 
was  blowing,  in  which  the  palms  on  shore  waved  grace- 
fully. 

Emily  thought  how  much,  under  different  circumstancs,  she 
would  enjoy  a  row  with  young  Jack  on  this  beautiful  lake,  and 
how  nice  it  would  be  to  fish  in  it. 

Hysa  got  into  the  boat,  which  was  but  a  frail  little  cockle- 
shell, capable  of  holding  three  persons. 

A  breath  of  wind  would  almost  capsize  it,  and  a  strong 
gust  would  swamp  it  effectually. 

Emily  was  about  to  imitate  her  new  friend's  example,  when 
they  were  both  startled  by  a  gruff  voice  above  them. 

"  Stop !  " 

They  looked  up. 

It  was  no  other  than  Bigamini,  standing  on  the  verandah. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  197 

In  his  hand  he  held  a  revolver,  which  was  pointed  at  the 
boat. 

Their  hearts  sank  within  them. 

Emily  was  rooted  to  the  ladder,  and  Hysa  did  not  dare 
to  move. 

"  Where  are  you  going  ? "  Bigamini  asked. 

Hysa  was  in  such  a  low  nervous  condition  at  being  dis- 
covered by  her  unscrupulous  husband,  that  she  did  not  dare 
to  speak. 

Plucking  up  courage,  Emily  bravely  replied — 

"  We  are  going  for  a  row.     Is  there  any  harm  in  that  ?  " 

"  It  is  against  orders.  Come  back,  or  I  shoot  you  both. 
Did  you  think  I  was  asleep  ?  Ha,  ha  !  How  grossly  you 
were  deceived ! " 

"  What  shall  we  do  ?  "  asked  Emily. 

"  We  must  return,"  replied  Hysa, 

Reluctantly  Emily  retraced  her  steps,  and  Hysa,  trembling 
in  every  limb,  followed  her. 

Bigamini  waited  until  they  were  both  in  front  of  him. 

"  What  do  you  take  me  for  ? "  he  demanded.  "  I  heard 
all  you  said.  You  have  been  deceiving  me,  and  you  shall 
suiter  for  it" 

"  Be  merciful,"  sobbed  Hysa. 

"  Bah !     You  know  me.    Mercy  in  my  heart,  and  for  you ! " 

"  Spare  my  Me ! "  she  pleaded. 

"  Mercy !  "  he  repeated.  "  You  might  as  well  expect  sparks 
from  a  snowball ! " 

Hysa  sank  on  her  knees. 

She  feared  that  he  would  strike  her  as  usual,  and  she  had 
not  recovered  from  the  last  blow  he  gave  her. 

"  My  resources  are  unlimited ! "  exclaimed  Bigamini.  "  I 
neglect  no  precaution," 

"  If  we  had  got  out  of  range  of  your  pistol,  and  you  had  no 
boat  to  pursue  us  in,  what  would  you  have  done  ? "  asked 
Emily. 

"  You  would  have  perished  in  my  death-trap." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that?  " ' 

"  I  will  explain  to  both  of  you,"  answered  Bigamini,  with 
one  of  his  grim,  ogre-like  smiles. 

The  words  sent  a  thrill  of  horror  through  the  frames  of 
his  listeners. 

Was  he  a  dynamite  fiend  ? 

There  was  some  hidden  meaning  hi  the  sepulchral  phrase. 


1 98  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

Leaning  over  the  verandah,  he  took  up  a  hook  which  was 
secured  to  a  post ;  attached  to  this  was  a  cord,  which  drop- 
ped down  into  the  lake. 

He  held  this  tightly  in  his  hand. 

"  Look,"  he  continued,  "  at  the  landing-stage.  It  is  built 
of  wood.  When  you  reach  it,  you  go  up  six  steps,  and — and 
walkover  it,  between  two  sets  of  rails,  for  a  dozen  yards,  when 
you  get  on  to  the  earth.  Do  you  follow  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  Emily. 

Hysa  listened  and  looked,  but  she  did  not  speak. 

"Pay  attention,"  he  went  on.  "Underneath  the  stage  is 
a  large  square  pit,  dug  in  the  earth,  ten  feet  deep.  The  stage 
is  composed  of  two  sets  of  boards,  so  constructed  as  to  meet 
in  the  middle  and  be  held  up  by  a  bolt  of  iron." 

"  What  good  is  that  ?  " 

"  Mark  me  well.  Watch !  I  pull  this  cord,  which  is  at- 
tached to  the  iron  bolt.  As  I  do  so,  it  draws  it  back :  the 
boards,  which  are  on  hinges,  fall  on  each  side,  revealing  a 
chasm.  Then  anyone  standing  on  them  would  be  precipitated 
into  the  pit." 

"  How  horrible  ! " 

He  proceeded,  without  paying  any  attention  to  her  inter- 
ruption. 

•'  By  a  peculiar  piece  of  mechanism  of  my  own  invention, 
the  two  boards  rise  up  again,  meet  together,  join,  and  the 
bolt  shoots  back,  holding  them  up  as  before." 

"  Any  one  standing  upon  them  would  fall  and  be  imprison- 
ed in  the  pit  ?  "  said  Emily. 

"  Precisely — that  is  my  meaning,"  answered  Bigamini.  "  I 
fix  the  hook  here  again  to  the  post,  and  it  is  ready  for  an- 
other occasion." 

"  What  becomes  of  the  people  who  stand  on  that  landing 
platform,  and  have  incurred  your  displeasure  ?  " 

"They  die," 

"  Then  that  is  your  death-trap  ? " 

"  Exactly.  I  will  give  you  an  example.  See,  a  mandarin 
duck  has  come  off  the  lake  ;  he  is  standing  on  the  landing- 
stage.  Observe  him  ? " 

Emily  did  so,  as  well  as  Hysa. 

All  eyes  were  riveted  on  the  beautiful,  gaudy-plum  aged 
bird. 

All  unconscious  of  its  doom,  it  was  pruning  its  wings  in 
the  glad  sunshine. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA. 


199 


Bigamini  pulled  the  cord  with  a  sharp  jerk.  There  was  a 
grating  sound,  as  of  a  bolt  shooting  back. 

In  a  second  the  platform  seemed  to  fall  to  pieces,  and  dis- 
appear into  the  ground. 

The  duck,  before  it  could  raise  its  wings  to  fly,  fell  down- 
ward into  the  chasm. 

Immediately,  as  if  by  clockwork,  the  two  flap  boards  rose, 
joined  together,  and  the  bolt  coming  back  into  its  place,  riv- 
eted them. 

All  was  as  before. 

"  Oh,"  exclaimed  Emily,  "  that  is  ingenious,  but  very  dread- 
ful. The  duck,  poor  thing  !  cannot  get  out" 

"  No  more  could  a  man  or  a  woman,"  replied  Bigamini. 

"  Is  there  water  inside  ?  " 

"A  little — perhaps  a  couple  of  feet.  No  more.  The  bot- 
tom of  the  pit  is  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  water  of  the  lake 
at  this  time  of  the  year.  When  we  have  the  rains  and  the 
floods,  it  is  nearly  full  of  water." 

"  Enough  to  drown  anyone  ? " 

"  Yes — then,  but  not  now." 

"  The  duck  will  die  of  starvation,"  added  Emily. 

"  Undoubtedly.  I  had  half  a  mind  to  let  you  two  'go  in 
the  boat  and  get  on  the  landing-stage.  You  would  not  have 
been  there  a  second,  before  I  should  have  pulled  the  cord." 

"We  should  have  fallen  into  your  death-trap." 

**  Certainly  ;  and  stayed  there.  So  can  I  cast  anyone  down. 
If  my  enemies  come  to  attack  me  in  my  house  upon  the  lake, 
they  never  go  back  to  tell  the  tale." 

"  Have  you  ever  thrown  anyone  down  ?  "  asked  Emily. 

"There  are  a  few  mouldering  skeletons  at  the  bottom  I 
believe,"  rejoined  Bigamini,  with  a  hollow  laugh. 

"  If  we  had  got  as  far  as  that,  would  you  have  pulled  the 
cord  ?  "  asked  Emily,  with  childish  curiosity. 

"Of  course  I  should.  You  don't  suppose  for  a  moment  I 
should  have  allowed  you  to  escape  ?  " 

u  What  a  bad  man  you  must  be." 

"  You're  a  saucy  little  miss,  but  I  don't  like  you  any  the 
worse  for  it.  Go  inside.  You  too,  Hysa !  Quick  !  Move 
yourself,  or  I'll  know  the  reason  why  ! " 

Hysa  got  up,  shivering. 

u  Let  your  poor  wife  alone,"  said  Emily.  "  You're  a  man, 
and  you  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourself." 

"What's  that?" 


200  JACK  HA RKA  IV A  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"Why,  you  know,  to  feel  a  sense  of  degradation." 

"  Can't  understand  that.  I'm  master,  and  I  mean  to  be. 
A  woman  lorded  over  me  once,  and  I  resolved  no  other  should 
do  it.  Go  in,  Hysa.  You  will  find  some  fish  I  caught. 
Cook  them  in  oil,  and  look  sharp,  or  I  pity  you." 

Hysa  obeyed  him,  only  too  glad  to  get  away. 

She  was  afraid  to  utter  a  word. 

The  wretch  had  conquered  her,  and  she  did  not  dare  to 
call  her  soul  her  own. 

Emily  went  after  her  kind  protectress,  who  was  so  willing, 
but  unable  to  save  her. 

The  attempt  at  escape  had  been  a  complete  failure. 

When  Bigamini  was  alone,  he  sat  down  in  a  bamboo  chair 
and  lighted  a  cigar. 

"  Hi  Li  is  a  long  time,"  he  muttered.  "  Perhaps  he  is 
being  dodged  by  Harkaway,  or  some  of  his  party.  I  must  keep 
a  sharp  lookout." 

A  dark  frown  crossed  his  face. 

If  Harkaway  found  out  where  he  was,  his  life  would  not 
be  worth  five  minutes'  purchase. 

In  half-an-hour's  time  Emily  made  her  appearance  on  the 
verandah. 

"  Mr.  Bigamini,"  she  said,  "  your  lunch  is  ready.  The 
fish  look  very  nice,  and  your  dear  wife  has  taken  great  pains 
with  them,  which,  I  must  confess,  is  more  than  you  deserve." 

"  You  are  considered  rather  cheeky,  aren't  you  ? "  he 
replied. 

"  Oh,  dear  no !  Everyone  regards  me  as  a  model  of 
propriety." 

"  You're  a  nice  little  thing,  anyhow,  and  I  shouldn't  like 
to  hurt  you.  I  hope  your  friends  will  pay  up." 

"They  will  be  sure  to  raise  the  money  between  them," 
said  Emily  ;  "  and  when  you  get  it,  you  ought  to  turn  honest 
and  treat  your  wife  better." 

"I'm  tired  of  her." 

"  Why  ?     She's  very  amiable." 

"  She's  a  worm !  "  said  Bigamini,  contemptuously. 

"  Worms  will  turn,  you  know,"  Emily  exclaimed.  "  That's 
a  proverb.  Take  care  she  doesn't." 

"  If  she  had  your  pluck,  I  should  like  her  better." 

"  Treat  her  kindly,  and  if  ever  you  fall  into  my  father's 
hands,  or  Jack  Harkaway's  I  will  ask  them  to  let  you  off 
easily." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  2OI 

*  Will  you?  "cried  BigaminL  "That's  a  bargain.  Don't 
TOO  forget  it,  my  little  lassie.  HI  let  her  off  and  give  her  a 
show.  We  will  lunch  together,  and  have  a  nice  bottle  of 

'" 


He  got  up  and  walked  into  die  room,  which  served  as 
Vfa  i^"**  **"^  dining-room. 

^  Give  her  a  kiss,"  said  Emily.  "  Mind,  you've  got  to  do 
what  I  tell  you,  or  I  won't  take  your  part  when  yon  need  it, 
and  you  never  know  when  you  wflL" 

*•  That's  a  true  remark,™  replied  BigaminL  "  It' s  a  topsy- 
turvy world,  and  well  I  know  it."* 

-Kiss  her,"  continued  Emily,  in  an  imperative  manner; 
K  she's  your  wife.  I've  heard  father  say  tiiat  if  a  man  ever 
does  a  wrong  to  a  woman,  it  is  sure  to  come  home  to  him 

"You've  got  an  extraordinary  influence  over  me,  you  young 
pass,"  Bigamini  observed. 

"  I  am  inclined  to  think  you  want  cmUzing."  she  answered. 

Bigamini  drew  his  wife  towards  him,  and  imprinted  a  kiss 
upon  her  lips,  which  astonished  her  beyond  measure,  as  she 
had  expected  to  be  badly  treated  for  trying  to  escape  widi 
hi;  -r.; :  --• 

A  magic  influence  had  Emily  over  everybody  she  came  in 


She  was  like  a  fitde  fairy,  and  no  one  could  help  loving 
her,  or  resist  the  ineffable  charm  of  her  manner. 

They  lunched  together,  and  afterwards  passed  a  pleasant 
afternoon,  Bigamini  teaching  Emily  to  catch  the  lake  fish, 
baiting  her  hook  for  her,  and  paying  her  every  attention. 

They  had  tea,  and  Emily  sang  some  old  English  songs  that 
her  mother  had  taught  her. 

As  the  sun  was  declining,  Bigamini  sent  them  both  indoors, 
and  sat  in  his  chair  on  die  verandah  facing  die  landing-stage. 

Emily  had  pleased  and  amused  him,  but  she  had  not  tamed 
him.  or  removed  his  vicious  instincts. 

"No  sleep  for  me,"  he  exclaimed;  "there  is  something 
wrong.  Hi  Li  would  never  be  so  long,  if  something  was  not 
up.  I  will  watch,  if  I  sit  up  all  night.  Yes,  I  must  keep  a 
lonehr  vigil,  for  Hi  Li  is  a  faithful  servant,  and  would  not 
deceiWme." 

He  lighted  a  cigar,  and  looked  over  die  surface  of  die 
lake. 

It  was  smooth  as  glass. 


2  02  JA  CK  HARK  A IV A  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

Not  a  breath  of  air  stirred  the  circumambient  atmosphere. 

A  star  appeared  in  the  sky. 

It  was  followed  by  others  at  intervals. 

Night  had  fallen,  but  Hi  Li  did  not  make  his  appearance, 

Bigamini  began  to  be  sorely  troubled  in  his  mind. 

He  kept  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  landing-stage,  and  every 
now  and  then  touched  the  hook  which  held  the  cord  attached 
to  the  bolt,  that  controlled  what  he  called  his  death-trap. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE  DEATH-TRAP. 

NIGHT  had  fallen  before  Hi  Li  and  his  friend,  Lo  Mung, 
arose  from  their  sleep. 

Young  Jack  and  Monday  were  becoming  impatient. 

It  looked  as  if  the  heathen  Chinese  were  going  to  sleep  all 
night. 

Had  they  done  so,  however,  they  would  have  watched  and 
waited. 

The  information  they  had  already  gained  from  the  two 
yellow-skinned,  almond-eyed  barbarians  was  too  important 
for  them  to  give  up  the  chase. 

Jack  felt  sure  that  he  was  on  the  track  of  .his  little  sweet- 
heart, to  rescue  whom  he  would  have  laid  down  his  life. 

Monday  was  the  first  to  perceive  the  Chinamen  moving. 

"  See,  Mast'  Jack,"  he  whispered,  "  the  beggars  are  on 
the  move." 

"  So  they  are — at  last,  thank  goodness.  I  was  getting 
jolly  tired  of  this,"  replied  Jack,  in  a  low  tone. 

"  Now  the  fun  begins.     We  track  um  for  sure." 

"  Don't  attempt  to  injure  them,  unless  they  attack  us," 
said  Jack,  warningly. 

"  No,"  answered  Monday.  "  Find  out  lilly  girl  first ;  kill 
thief  after  ;  that  um  dodge." 

"  Exactly.  We  must  consider  ourselves  spies — cautious, 
crafty,  cunning  spies." 

"  That  um  so.      Hush  !  they're  getting  up." 

Jack  and  Monday  became  silent. 

First,  Lo  Mung  rose.  He  was  followed  by  Hi  Li.  Both 
yawned  and  stretched  themselves." 


ADVENTURES  JN  CHINA.  203 

"  Sleepee  long,  sleepee  late,"  obsen'ed  Lo  Mung. 

"  Bad  job.  Me  gettee  stick."  Hi  Li  remarked,  with  a 
mournful  look. 

"  What  for  stick  hittee  you  ? " 

"  My  boss  get  in  rage  at  me  not  being  at  the  house.  He 
have  to  watchee  the  girl  and  the  wife,  too." 

"  It  was  the  foreign  devil's  wine  makee  sleepee.  Not  like 
tea,"  said  Lo  Mung. 

'•Too  heavee  for  eyelidders.  Makee  head  an  acher," 
replied  Hi  Li,  pressing  his  brow. 

"  You  givee  letter  to  me  allee  rightee,"  continued  Lo 
Mung.  "  Sayee  we  walkee  miles,  because  someone  was  a 
follower." 

"  Vellee  good.  Me  do  that,  and  Biga-ing-ming-ming  say 
nothing." 

The  idea  suggested  by  his  companion  seemed  to  cheer 
Hi  Li  considerably. 

He  had  been  beaten  on  several  occasions  by  his  violent- 
tempered  master,  and  did  not  want  a  repetition  of  the 
process. 

Bigamini  knew  the  anatomy  of  a  human  being,  and  was 
able  to  pick  out  the  soft  places  in  a  man's  body,  as  well  as 
any  cow-hiding  slave-driver,  when  larruping  a  nigger,  as  it 
was  termed  in  the  Southern  States. 

They  walked  on  in  blissful  ignorance  that  they  were  being 
tracked. 

Had  they  been  aware  that  Monday  and  young  Jack  were 
at  their  heels  that  starry  night,  they  would  not  have  been  so 
much  at  their  ease. 

They  chatted  pleasantly  about  the  good  time  they  were 
going  to  have  together  in  Hong-Kong. 

The  nice  toothsome  dishes  that  they  would  eat,  such  as 
rat  and  dog,  prepared  a  la  Chinoise,  made  their  mouths 
water. 

And  the  opium  they  would  smoke,  and  the  whiskee, 
brandee,  gin,  of  the  foreign  devils,  as  they  called  it,  caused 
them  to  think  of  Paradise. 

Their  pursuers  lagged  behind,  but  kept  them  well  in  view. 

All  their  anxiety  was  to  find  out  their  lair. 

There  was  little  doubt  in  Jack's  mind  that  Bigamini  was 
the  abductor  of  Emily. 

The  Celestials,  when  talking,  had  alluded  to  him  by  name. 

If  he  could  discover  the  hiding-place  of  the  loathsome 


2  04  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

wretch  who  had  caused  them  so  much  trouble,  all  would  be 
well. 

A  rescue  would  be  speedily  effected,  and  the  bold  ab- 
ductor properly  punished. 

After  walking  a  few  miles  the  two  Chinamen  came  to  the 
margin  of  the  lake. 

They  found  the  boat  where  Hi  Li  had  left  it  in  the  morn- 
ing, when  he  had  started  for  Mole's  plantation  with  Biga- 
mini's  letter  about  the  girl's  ransom. 

There  was  no  moon,  but  the  twinkling  stars  were  reflected 
in  the  bosom  of  the  lake. 

It  was  easy  for  anyone  in  the  house  to  see  anybody  on 
the  landing-stage,  or  near  the  edge  of  the  sheet  of  water. 

If  it  were  unusually  dark,  the  inventive  genius  of  Bigamini 
had  provided  a  safeguard. 

He  had  a  large  lamp,  with  a  powerful  reflector,  which 
threw  a  glare  on  the  shore  to  whatever  part  it  was  directed. 

This  he  called  his  patent  double-action  search  light. 

He  kept  a  cap  over  the  disc  of  the  lamp  when  he  did  not 
want  to  use  it. 

This  could  be  taken  off  instantly,  and  the  light  applied 
in  case  of  an  alarm. 

In  addition  to  this  he  had  his  rifle  gallery,  in  which  six 
loaded  rifles  always  rested  on  supports,  and  faced  the  land. 

To  storm  Bigamini's  castle  was  not  such  an  easy  thing 
as  it  looked. 

Being  built  out  on  the  lake  was  a  great  point  in  its  favour. 

During  the  evening  he  had  been  sitting  in  the  verandah, 
watching  the  shore,  as  he  smoked  cigars  and  drank  claret. 

He  was  puzzled  at  his  servant  Hi  Li's  prolonged  absence. 

There  was  a  chance  of  his  being  captured  and  taken  be- 
fore a  native  judge,  who  had  power  to  put  him  to  the  torture. 

Under  pressure  of  pain  he  would  probably  confess  all. 

If  that  happened,  it  would  not  be  long  before  a  raid  was 
made  upon  Bigamini's  dwelling. 

Ill  at  ease,  he  kept  his  restless  eyes  fixed  upon  the  shore. 

He  had  the  search  light  by  his  side,  but  there  was  n& 
occasion  to  use  it  that  night. 

Objects  were  perfectly  visible  on  land. 

He  saw  Hi  Li  and  Lo  Mung  when  they  reached  the  plat- 
form. 

The  latter  sought  the  rope  by  which  the  boat  was  moored, 
and  began  to  untie  it. 


ADVENTURES  M3F  ClflA'A.  2O- 

AH  Chinamen  are  very  jnnch  alike,  wish  their  loose  dress 
'his  man  Hi  Li,  but  who  had  he 


him  from  Mr.  Mole's,  because  he  did  not  know  that 


he  could  see  die  forms  of  the  two  men,  he 


The  starhght  was  not  strong  enough  to  enable  him  to  do 

-.        r 

An  uneasy  feeling  stole  over  his  mind. 

He  was  ill  In  miaul  to  satisfy  himself  as  to  the  identity 
of  these  nocturnal  visitors. 

If  they  were  foes,  his  place  was  in  the  rifle  gaOerr. 
where  he  could  kffl  them  and  sink  them  before  they  had 
many  yards  in  a  boat. 

Removing  the  cap.,  he  turned  die  double-action  search 


A  brief  examination  showed  him  who  Ae  strangers  were. 

Tie  fight  was  shut  off  quickly;  the  Chinese  got  into  the 
boat  and  rowed  to  the  house. 

Hysa  had  gone  to  sleep,  with  £muy  by  her  side. 

The  boat  ran  alongside  the  piles  on  which  the  house  was 
buik,  and  BJgamini  was  about  to  question  the  Chinamen  as 
they  came  up  the  steps,  when  his  quick  eye  detected  the 


They  were  young  Jack  and  Monday,  who  had  watched 
the  boat  depart,  and  walked  on  to  the  nliliniTin  to  get  a 
belter  look  of  the  house. 

-Spied  upon  and  tracked,"'  he  muttered.  "They  are 
followed  and  the  empty-headed  fools  did  not  know  it." 

For  a  moment  he  turned  the  search  fight  OB  again. 

Then  all  was  darkness. 

-By  heaven,0  he  cried,  «it  is  young  Harkaway  and  that 
caned  Mack,  Monday.  A  rocky  discovery." 

With  a  nervous  eagerness  he  puffed  the  cord. 

The  death-trap  opened  suddenly. 

Taken  unawares,  young  Jack  and  the  faithful  Monday 
were  precipitated  into  the  chasm. 

Thev  ottered  wfld  cries  of  alarm  and  despair. 

The'  next  moment  the  hidden 
boar&  to  resume  their  former  position. 


206  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

Young  Jack  and  his  companion  were  caught  in  the  death- 
trap, and  buried  alive. 

Their  fate  was  as  certain  as  it  was  secret. 

Even  Lo  Mung  and  Hi  Li  were  ignorant  of  what  had  hap- 
pened. 

Bigamini  did  not  think  it  advisable  or  necessary  to  en- 
lighten them. 

They  came  in,  made  their  explanations  and  excuses,  and 
there  was  an  end  of  the  matter. 

Giving  the  Chinamen  some  supper,  Bigamini  told  them 
to  keep  watch  and  watch  until  day  dawned,  when  they 
were  to  awake  him. 

He  then  threw  himself  on  the  mats  in  the  ante-room, 
and  almost  immediately  fell  into  a  sound  slumber. 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

THE   RANSOM — RESTORATION     OF    EMILY — DIVIDING  THE 
SPOIL — POISON    IN  THE  GLASS. 

THE  dawn  of  day  was  ushered  in  at  a  very  early  hour. 
Hi  Li,  who  was  on  the  watch,  roused  his  master. 

"  Sayee,  boss  !  Timee  wakee  !  "  he  exclaimed,  shaking 
him  by  the  shoulder. 

Bigamini  sprang  to  his  feet. 

He  glared  savagely  at  the  Chinaman  and  grasped  his 
pistol. 

"  Fight  me  !     Will  you  ?  "   he  screamed. 

"  It  am  your  servanter,  allee  rightee,"  replied  Hi  Li. 

"  Oh,  yes  !  I  forgot.  Get  the  boat  and  row  me  to  the 
shore." 

He  had  been  having  bad  dreams,  the  last  of  which  was 
the  worst. 

It  was  his  idea  that  he  was  in  the  condemned  cell  await- 
ing death. 

The  hand  of  the  executioner  was  upon  him,  to  pinion  his 
arms  ere  he  was  dragged  to  the  scaffold. 

Drinking  some  cold  tea,  he  got  into  the  boat. 

The  shore  was  speedily  reached. 

"  You  need  not  wait  for  me,"  he  said.  "  I  will  whistle 
for  you  when  I  return." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA. 


207 


"  How  longee  that  be  ?  "  asked  Hi  Li. 

"  Two  hours.     Not  more." 

Hi  Li  shot  the  boat  into  the  lake  and  went  back  into  the 
house. 

When  he  got  up  the  step-ladder  and  stood  on  the  landing- 
stage,  Bigamini  listened. 

He  heard  the  sound  of  voices  emanating  from  below. 

Kneeling  down,  he  put  his  ears  against  the  boards  and 
listened. 

Monday  was  speaking. 

"  This  am  um  might}'  bad  fix,  Mast'  Jack,"  he  exclaimed. 

"  It  is  so,"  replied  young  Jack. 

"  How  de  debble  we  going  to  get  out  ob  it  I  dunno." 

"  Nor  I  either.  It  is  a  clever  device.  That  fellow  Big- 
amini is  as  cunning  as  his  master." 

"  Who's  that,  sare  ?  " 

"  Satan,  the  Prince  of  Darkness ;  Beelzebub,  the  author  of 
all  evil." 

"  You're  right,  sare ;  he's  got  us.  I'm  up  to  my  knees  in 
water,  and  the  little  water  snakes  is  playing  with  me.  I  can't 
reach  anywhere  near  the  top  ;  the  walls  of  the  pit  is  smooth. 
Wouldn't  care  if  I  could  lie  down  and  take  um  rest." 

"  I'm  afraid  we  sha'n't  rest  till  we  die." 

"  Nebber  say  die." 

"  That's  right — we  won't.  Never  despair.  Nil  desperan- 
dum.  I  wonder  how  the  trick  was  worked  ?  " 

"  It  am  like  the  harlequin  in  a  London  pantomime,  sare," 
replied  Monday. 

"  So  it  is.  The  boards  gave  way,  down  we  went ;  boards 
went  up,  as  if  by  magic  again,  and  here  we  are. " 

"  That  is  the  situation,"  said  Monday.  "  Cuss  it !  What 
we  do  ? " 

Young  Jack  made  no  answer. 

Silence  reigned  in  the  damp,  pestilential  vault. 

Rising,  Bigamini  continued  his  journey,  perfectly  satisfied 
that  his  enemies  were  effectually  trapped. 

"  What  price  young  Harkaway  now  ? "  he  said  to  himself. 

"He  was  always  too  cock-a-hoop!  "He's  got  his  comb 
cut.  Serve  him  right.  Hunston  will  be  glad  to  hear  of  this, 
and  ought  to  pay  me  well." 

Chuckling  at  his  success,  he  pursued  his  walk,  highly  de- 
lighted 

It  was  his  intention  to  visit  Mr.  Mole's  plantation  at  this 


208  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

early  hour,  to  see  if  the  money  had  been  deposited  in  the 
place  indicated  in  his  letter. 

If  he  got  the  cash  demanded,  he  intended  to  return 
Emily  to  her  friends,  according  to  promise. 

She  could  possibly  be  of  no  use  to  him  in  any  way,  and 
strange  to  say,  the  rascal  had  taken  a  liking  to  her. 

It  was  rarely  that  he  loved  anyone,  or  anything,  except,  his 
•own  base,  selfish  body. 

But  little  Emily,  by  her  looks,  her  manner,  her  boldness, 
had  conquered  Bigamini. 

Ruthless  as  he  was,  he  felt  that  it  would  go  against  the 
grain  with  him  to  kill  her. 

It  is  said  that  the  greatest  villains  are  not  all  bad — they 
have  a  soft  spot  in  their  hearts  somewhere. 

The  night  was  cool,  and  Bigamini  walked  quickly. 

In  a  short  time  he  came  to  Mr.  Mole's  tea-garden,  and 
advanced  with  caution  to  the  old  well. 

His  right  hand  held  a  pistol. 

If  anyone  confronted  him,  he  intended  to  shoot. 

Bat  there  was  no  sign  of  a  person  of  any  kind,  English  of 
Chinese,  being  about. 

The  tea  shrubs  were  so  small,  that  they  afforded  no  shelter. 
and  trees  were  conspicuous  by  their  absence. 

When  he  reached  the  well,  he  was  delighted  to  see  a  large 
canvas  bag  on  the  wall.  Eagerly  he  clutched  it. 

It  was  very  heavy. 

"  Gold  !  gold ! "  he  muttered.  "  All  for  me,  or  I'll  know 
the  reason  why.  Gold — beautiful  gold  !  " 

He  retreated,  going  backwards,  with  his  face  to  the  wall, 
until  he  had  got  to  a  safe  distance. 

Then  he  hastened  homeward. 

Arriving  at  the  lake,  he  whistled. 

Hi  Li  was  waiting  for  his  master,  and  at  once  put  off  in  the 
boat. 

In  a  few  minutes  he  touched  the  landing-stage,  Bigamini 
got  into  the  small  craft,  and  was  conveyed  to  the  Lake 
House. 

He  went  into  his  private  room  and  put  the  bag  on  a  table. 

It  did  not  take  him  long  to  untie  the  string  and  turn  out 
the  contents. 

The  gold,  for  such  it  was,  consisted  entirely  of  sovereigns 
minted  in  London  for  the  Bank  of  England. 

He  counted  them  into  little  piles  of  twenty-five  each. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  209 

His  eyes  feasted  on  them  until  he  positively  gloated  over 
the  spoil. 

"  No  time  to  be  lost.  The  girl  shall  go  home  at  once,  as 
the  ransom  is  paid,"  he  said. 

Proceeding  to  Hysa's  room,  he  awoke  her. 

"  Whatee  wantee  ?     No  hurtee  !  "  she  cried. 

Often  had  the  brute  struck  her  in  her  sleep. 

She  was  always  afraid  of  him,  day  and  night,  when  in  his 
drunken  moods. 

"  Wake  the  child !  Dress  her  quick !  She  is  to  go  with 
me,"  he  said. 

You  meanee  no  harmee  ?  " 

"  Fool !     The  money  has  been  paid." 

He  returned  to  his  room,  ate  some  biscuits  made  of  rice, 
and  drank  some  wine. 

In  a  short  time  Hysa  led  Emily  forward. 

"  She  is  readee,"  exclaimed  Hysa.     "  Good-bye." 

Emily  held  up  her  face  for  a  kiss. 

This  she  received,  with  every  demonstration  of  affection 
from  the  kind-hearted  Chinawoman. 

"  You  have  been  very  good  to  me.     I  like  you,"  said  Emily. 

"And  I !  What  do  you  think  of  me  ?  "  inquired  Bigamini. 

"  Don't  ask,"  replied  Emily,  candidly. 

"  I  am  going  to  take  you  back  to  your  friends.  They 
hare  paid  for  you." 

"  How  much  ?  " 

"  That  is  none  of  your  business,  miss,  but  I  do  not  mind 
telling  you.  The  sum  is  a  thousand  pounds." 

"  What  a  lot  of  money  ! "  laughed  Emily.  "  I  did  not  think 
I  was  worth  it." 

"  Your  father  evidently  thinks  so." 

"  Yes,  and  dear  good  old  Jack  Harkaway,  too,  and  Mr. 
Mole,  and  young  Jack,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  party." 

"  You  have  a  capital  opinion  of  yourself." 

"  And  of  them,  too,  heaven  bless  them !  Come  along,  Mr. 
Biga-ing-ming-ming,  as  you  call  yourself." 

"  It  seems  you  are  in  a  hurry." 

"Certainly  I  am,  to  get  away  from  this  place.  Treat 
your  wife  better,  or  you  will  never  prosper." 

Bigamini^bit  his  lip. 

"  Remember  your  oath  !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  I  am  not  likely  to  forget  it,"  Emily  answered. 

Putting  his  whistle  to  his  lips,  he  blew  it 


210  JACK  If  ARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

In  a  moment  Hi  Li  was  by  his  side. 

"  What  is  it,  master  ? "  he  asked. 

"  You  know  where  you  took  the  letter  to-day,"  continued 
Bigamini. 

"To  Mister  Mole's  plantation." 

"  Conduct  this  young  lady  safely  to  within  a  short  distance 
of  it.  Let  her  see  the  house,  and  then  run  all  the  way  back 
here." 

"  Me  be  a  runner." 

"  Off  you  go.  Mind  you  are  not  followed.  Be  speedy, 
and  I  will  reward  you  well." 

Yes,  excellency.  It  shall  be  donee  according  to  your 
wishes,"  answered  Hi  Li. 

He  bowed  ceremoniously. 

"  Farewell,  little  one,  "  added  Bigamini.  "  Will  you  not 
shake  hands  with  me  before  you  go  ? " 

Emily  shook  her  head. 

"  I  fear  there  is  blood  upon  your  hand,"  she  said 

Bigamini  started. 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ? "  he  asked. 

"  I  dreamed  that  you  were  killing  somebody," 

"  It  is  foolish  fancy." 

"  Good-bye." 

She  gave  her  hand  willingly  to  Hi  Li,  and  tripped  away 
with  him,  her  face  wreathed  with  smiles. 

She  was  going  home  to  these  who  loved  her. 

But  she  would  not  touch  Bigamini. 

He  returned  angrily  to  his  room,  to  gloat  over  his  gold. 

"  Even  the  children  shrink  from  me,"  he  murmured. 
"Why?" 

He  might  have  spared  himself  the  trouble  of  asking  the 
question. 

It  was  instinct. 

The  good  and  pure  avoid  the  bad  and  wicked. 

It  was  with  the  utmost  anxiety  that  Bigamini  watched  the 
departure,  and  awaited  the  return  of  Hi  Li. 

Two  hours  elapsed. 

He  sat  brooding  over  some  brandy  and  water,  smoking  for 
two  hours. 

Then  he  heard  the  sound  of  oars  in  the  water,  and  knew 
that  his  servant  had  come  back. 

"  Well,"  he  ejaculated,  as  Hi  Li,  after  mooring  the  boat, 
ascended  the  steps  leading  to  the  verandah. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  2H 

"  It  is  all  wellee,"  replied  Hi  Li.  "  Little  missee  see  housee 
and  door  open,  she  runnee  in." 

"  Did  anyone  observe  you  ? " 

"  No,  most  honourable." 

''  That  will  do.  Get  into  your  straw  and  sleep.  I  shall 
sit  up,  for  I  expect  my  friends  from  the  city  early." 

Hi  Li  retired,  with  his  accustomed  low  obeisance,  to  the 
room  in  which  he  slept. 

His  bed  consisted  simply  of  a  quantity  of  rice  straw,  and 
he  had  shared  the  shakedown  with  Lo  Mung. 

Bigamini  was  anticipating  a  visit  from  Blowhard  and 
Schneider. 

They  would  be  anxious  to  know  if  he  had  got  the  money, 
and  want  their  share. 

A  division  of  the  spoils  would  take  place. 

He  was  tired  of  his  partners,  and  a  murderous  idea  had 
come  into  his  brain. 

Going  to  a  cupboard,  he  took  out  of  it  a  bottle  labelled 
"  Laudanum." 

There  was  a  flagon  of  wine  on  the  table,  from  which  he 
had  been  drinking. 

It  was  about  two-thirds  full. 

Into  this  he  poured  enough  of  the  deadly,  poisonous  lau- 
danum to  kill  half-a-dozen  men. 

A  glass  of  that  poisoned  wine  would  send  anyone  who 
drank  it  into  a  sleep  from  which  he  would  never  awaken. 

He  would  soon  visit  the  night's  Plutonian  shore,  where 
lost  departed  spirits  await  their  doom. 

It  was  about  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  Bigamini 
was  roused  by  the  sound  of  a  whistle. 

Looking  across  the  lake,  he  saw  Schneider  and  Blowhard 
approaching  the  landing-stage. 

Instantly  getting  into  the  boat,  he  rowed  to  the  shore, 
greeted  them  warmly,  his  face  wreathed  with  Judas-like 
smiles,  and  conveyed  them  to  the  house. 

Hysa  was  ready  with  tea  and  rice  cakes,  of  which  tney 
partook. 

They  were  then  conducted  to  their  host's  private  room, 
where  the  gold  received  from  Harkaway  and  Harvey  for  the 
restoration  of  little  Emily  was  piled  on  the  table. 

"  There  you  are,  gentlemen,"  exclaimed  BigaminL  "  My 
plan  has  worked  well,  and  succeeded  admirably." 

"  How  did  you  get  the  money  ? "  asked  Blowhard. 


212  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  I  wrote  for  it,  and  it  was  deposited  in  a  certain  place." 

"  And  the  girl " 

"  Has  been  sent  back.     I  had  no  further  use  for  her." 

"  It  does  my  eyes  goot,"  said  the  Dutchman,  "  to  see  so 
much  golt." 

"  Let's  divvy  up,"  cried  Blowhard,  "  and  have  a  rest  and 
a  smoke.  We  were  up  early,  and  have  walked  all  the  way 
from  the  city." 

**  With  all  my  heart,"  Bigamini  replied. 

The  gold  was  divided  into  three  portions. 

That  is  to  say.  each  one  received  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  pounds,  there  being  one  odd  sovereign  left  over,  which 
Bigamini  appropriated. 

Schneider  and  Blowhard  then  disposed  themselves  on 
mats,  and  began  to  smoke. 

This  soon  inclined  them  to  drink. 

They  asked  for  wine, 

Bigamini  at  once  went  to  the  cupboard,  took  from  it  the 
poisoned  bottle,  and  placed  it  before  them  with  some  large 
glasses. 

"  Help  yourselves,"  he  said,  and  went  on  smoking.  They 
did  so. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

THE   OATH — A   THOUGHT   READER. 

WHEN  Harkaway  and  Harvey  had  raised  the  money  in 
Hong-Kong  for  the  ransom  of  little  Emily,  they  placed  it  on 
the  edge  of  the  old  well  and  returned  to  the  house. 

After  dinner  the  time  hung  heavily  on  their  hands,  and  the 
evening  passed  slowly,  as  no  one  was  much  in  the  mood  for 
talking. 

Harvey  and  Hilda  were  alarmed  and  nervous  on  account 
of  their  daughter,  while  Harkaway  and  Emily  began  to  grow 
anxious,  because  young  Jack  and  Monday  had  not  come 
back. 

At  length  they  went  to  bed. 

Harvey  could  not  sleep. 

When  he  had  tossed  about  restlessly  until  day  dawn,  he 
got  up,  and  went  down-stairs. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHIXA.  213 

To  his  great  delight,  he  had  scarcely  opened  the  back  door, 
before  he  saw  his  child  running  towards  him. 

She  had  just  been  left  by  the  Chinaman  to  whom  Bigamini 
had  entrusted  her. 

"  Here  she  is  !  Emily's  come  back ! "  he  shouted,  loud 
enough  to  rouse  even-one  in  the  house. 

He  caught  her  in  his  arms  and  kissed  her  tenderly. 

In  less  than  a  minute  Hilda  had  descended,  and  taking 
her  from  him,  embraced  her  lovingly. 

They  went  into  the  drawing-room,  followed  by  Harkaway 
and  Professor  Mole. 

"  So  far,  so  good,"  exclaimed  Mole,  "  the  girl's  come  back, 
but  where  is  the  boy  ? " 

"That  is  the  question  that  perplexes  me,"  replied  Hark- 
away. 

"  What  did  he  say  when  he  departed  with  that  sable  speci- 
men of  humanity,  Monday  ?  " 

"  Simply  that 'they  had  discovered  tracks  and  were  going 
to  follow  them  up,  with  a  view  to  recovering  Emily.  I  tried 
to  dissuade  them,  but  they  would  have  their  own  way." 

"  Obstinate  as  mules.     I  know  them." 

"  We  must  put  them  on  one  side  for  a  time,"  continued 
Harkaway,  "  and  hear  what  Emily  has  to  tell  us." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Harvey,  "  I  am  extremely  anxious  to 
know  who  carried  her  off." 

"Exactly.  The  Hong-Kong  police  will  have  something 
to  say  in  that  matter." 

"Yes;  and  we  may,  perhaps,  get  our  money  back,"  said 
Harvey. 

He  took  Emily  up.  and  put  her  on  his  knee. 

She  looked  up  laughingly  into  his  face,  seeming  delighted 
to  be  at  home  once  more. 

So,  in  truth,  she  was. 

During  the  whole  time  she  had  been  with  Bigamini  and 
Hysa,  she  was  in  dread. 

"  Who  took  you  away,  and  where  have  you  been  ?  "  asked 
Harvey. 

Little  Emily  shook  her  head. 

Full  well  she  recollected  the  solemn  oath  that  the  crafty 
Bigamini  had  made  her  swear. 

"I  am  very  sorry,"  she  replied,  "but  I  cannot  tell  you 

all  regarded  her  with  astonishment. 


214  JA  CK  HA  KKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON  's 

Had  she  taken  leave  of  her  senses  ? 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  demanded  Harvey. 

"  Just  what  I  say,  papa  dear.  My  lips  are  sealed.  I  am 
pledged  to  secrecy." 

"  By  whom  ? " 

"  I  must  not  tell,"  she  persisted. 

"Was  it — "  began  Hilda. 

"  No,  no  !  That  won't  do,  mamma.  You  may  fish  but  you 
won't  catch  anything.  I  have  taken  an  awfully  solemn 
and  binding  oath  not  to  reveal  name  or  place.  Surely  you 
would  not  wish  me  to  be  so  wicked  as  to  break  it." 

"  You  were  forced  to  take  it,  I  suppose  ? "  asked  Harvey. 

"  I  was  to  be  beaten  if  I  did  not :  one  stroke  on  the  shoul- 
ders with  a  bamboo  I  did  get.  It  was  enough  for  me,"  re- 
plied Emily,  with  a  shudder. 

"  Poor  child !  This  treatment  amounts  to  coercion.  What 
do  you  think,  Jack  ? "  asked  Harvey. 

"  Decidedly,"  answered  Harkaway. 

"Then  the  oath  is  not  binding  on  her,  because  she  did  not 
swear  willingly." 

"That  is  my  opinion." 

"  And  mine  also,"  put  in  Mole.  "  As  a  man  of  letters,  my 
voice  should  have  some  weight." 

"  You  hear,  Emmy,"  exclaimed  Harvey.  "  We  all  agree 
that  you  may  conscientionsly  break  your  oath." 

"  Nothing  will  persuade  me  to  do  so,"  replied  the  little 
maiden,  pursing  up  her  lips. 

"Is  it  anyone  we  know,  or  have  cause  to  be  afraid  of — 
Hunston,  for  instance  ?  " 

Emily  looked  archly  at  her  father. 

Her  face  assumed  a  comical  expression,  which  made  every- 
body laugh. 

"  Do  you  think  it  is  going  to  rain  to-day,  papa  ? "  she 
queried. 

"  Don't  be  rude,  Emily,"  said  Hilda,  reprovingly. 

"  I  did  not  intend  to  be,"  replied  the  child. 

"  Tell  me  who  has  kept  you  away  from  us,  and  taken  the 
thousand  pounds  ? " 

"  Mamma,  do  I  look  best  in  pink,  or  white  or  blue  ?  " 

"  Naughty  girl !  I  shall  put  you  to  bed,"  exclaimed  Hilda, 
growing  angry. 

Emily  yawned. 

"  That  is  exactly  where  I  want  to  go.     Every  thing  is  all 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA. 


215 


right  Let  us  get  on  board  our  ship  as  soon  as  possible,  and 
go  to  Greece  after  the  treasure." 

"  We  cannot,  my  dear,"  replied  Harkaway. 

"  How  so  ?  " 

"  Another  misfortune  has  happened,  of  which  you  know 
nothing." 

"  There  seems  to  be  no  end  to  our  calamities  and  annoy- 
ances. What  is  it  now  ? " 

"  My  son  Jack  and  our  faithful  Monday  are  missing." 

•'  Since  when  ?  "  asked  Emily. 

"  Yesterday  afternoon.  They  would  start  after  you,  hav- 
ing found  some  tracks,  which  made  them  believe  they  had 
obtained  a  clue  to  your  whereabouts." 

"  I  saw  nothing  of  either  of  them." 

"  Do  you  think  they  have  been  made  prisoners  ?  "  inquired 
Harkaway. 

"  Not  by  the  people  I  was  with,  or  I  should  have  heard 
and  seen  something  of  them,"  Emily  rejoined. 

Although  Emily  knew  of  the  death-trap,  which  Bigamini 
had  described  to  her  when,  with  Hysa,  she  had  attempted  to 
escape  in  the  canoe,  she  was  ignorant  of  its  having  been  used 
lately. 

"  Come,  come,"  cried  Harvey,  impatiently;  "  who  are  these 
people  you  have  been  with  ?  Where  do  they  live  ?  How 
are  we  to  get  at  them  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  tell  you.     For  my  soul's  sake,  I  dare  not" 

"  That  is  fanatical  nonsense.  I  am  very  much  annoyed. 
Take  the  child  away,"  Harvey  added. 

"  Do  not  be  cross  with  me,"  pleaded  Emily.  "  I  am  not 
to  blame,  father." 

"  You  are  defiant  I  feel  sure  that  young  Jack  and  Monday 
have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  people  who  have  detained 
you,  and  you  will  not  guide  us  to  the  scoundrel's  haunt." 

"  My  oath  prevents  me.'' 

Emily  spoke  decidedly. 

She  had  been  well  brought  up  if  not  strictly,  and  was  of 
a  pious  disposition. 

Seeing  that  her  religion  would  not  allow  her  to  make  any 
revelation  respecting  her  captor,  Hilda  led  her  from  the  room. 

Emily  accompanied  mother  and  child  upstairs,  but  though 
they  plied  her  with  questions,  they  could  extract  nothing  from 
her' 

The  three  men  were  left  together. 


2 16  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  MIS  SON'S 

"The  child  has  been  artfully  made  to  swear  to  divulge 
nothing,"  remarked  Mr.  Mole,  "  and  I  can  see  you  will  get 
nothing  out  of  her." 

"  It  is  very  annoying,"  replied  Harvey.  "  She  cannot  have 
been  very  far  off — certainly  not  so  far  as  Hong-Kong.  It 
is  not  more  than  six  hours  since  we  put  the  bag  of  gold  on 
the  edge  of  the  old  well,  and  Emmy  has  been  back  nearly  an 
hour." 

"  I  should  particularly  like  to  know  in  which  direction  to 
look  for  the  hiding-place  of  the  villains,"  said  Harkaway. 

"  As  for  me,  I  am  just  dying  to  get  at  it.  I  would  attack 
them  singlehanded  if  you  two  failed  to  support  me,"  cried 
Mole. 

He  had  not  neglected  to  take  an  early  morning  dram,  and 
felt  valiant. 

"  Suppose  you  go  one  way  and  I  the  other,  sir,  to  scour 
the  country." 

"  A  very  good  idea,  but  I  think  I  would  rather  go  with 
you." 

"  For  protection  ? " 

"  Oh,  dear  no  !  I  would  protect  you.  The  fact  is,  I'm 
genial.  I  like  company,  and  I  like  to  have  some  one  to  talk 
to." 

A  servant  now  announced  that  breakfast  was  ready. 

They  all  adjourned  to  the  dining-room,  where,  a  gong  being 
sounded,  they  were  joined  by  the  ladies. 

Hilda  announced  that  little  Emily  was  sleeping  soundly. 

"  Poor  dear,"  she  said,  "  I  fear  she  is  quite  exhausted. 
She  has  had  her  trials." 

"  It  is  a  pity  she  will  not  speak,"  said  Harvey. 

*'  I  honour  and  respect  her  for  her  truthfulness." 

"  If  she  would  reveal  what  she  knows,  we  could  bag  our 
enemy  and  recover  our  money." 

"  Nothing  will  induce  her  to  open  her  lips." 

"  Well,  all  I  can  say  is  that  it  is  a  mistaken  idea.  An 
oath  forced  from  anyone  is  not  binding." 

"  She  is  too  young  to  understand  legal  quibbles,"  remarked 
Hilda.  "  All  she  depends  on  is  her  conscience.  She  has 
sworn  to  keep  a  promise." 

"  Say  no  more  about  it,"  replied  Harvey. 

"  That  man,  Lo  Mung,  has  discharged  himself,"  said  Emily 
— "  at  least,  the  other  servants  say  he  is  nowhere  to  be 
found." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  217 

"  The  Chinese  are  very  independent,"  answered  Harkaway. 
u  You  must  not  speak  to  them." 

At  this  moment  a  female  servant  entered  the  room,  and 
gave  a  card  to  Mr.  Mole.  He  read  it  attentively. 

It  was  written  in  English,  and  in  a  tolerable 'round  hand. 

^  Curious,"*  exclaimed  Mole.  "  The  famous  thought-reader 
of  Pekin,  now  in  Hong-Kong,  named  Tien  Sin,  has  favored 
me  with  a  visit." 

'•  Has  thought-reading  penetrated  into  this  benighted  coun- 
try ?"  asked  Harkaway. 

u  My  dear  boy,  they  always  were  ahead  of  us  in  all  the  scien- 
ces !  They  invented  the  art  of  printing ;  they  discovered  the 
way  to  make  gunpowder  long  bef  oe  Roger  Bacon  did ;  in  short, 
they  were  up  to  concert-pitch,  and  had  a  search  light  thou- 
sands of  years  before  we  did." 

"  Are  YOU  going  to  have  your  thoughts  read,  sir?  " 

"Ithiakl  wilL     I'll  try  the  fellow." 

"  Perhaps  he  is  an  impostor,  and  you  will  pay  your  money 
for  nothing." 

"  111  chance  that.  Read  his  card,  and  tell  me  what  your 
opinion  of  it  is,"  replied  Mole. 

Harkaway  took  the  card,  the  contents  of  which  ran  as 
follows— 

"Tien  Sin,  the  great  Thought-Reader  Extraordinary  of 
Pekin,  now  residing  for  a  brief  space  in  the  Treaty  Port  of 
Hong- Kong,  sends  his  greeting  to  the  distinguished  and  most 
honourable  English  mandarin,  Mole. 

"  Tien  Sin  is  thought-reader  by  appointment  to  the  Em- 
peror of  China.  King  of  the  Sun,  Moon,  and  Stars,  Master 
of  the  White  Elephant,  and  Ornament  of  the  Universe. 

"  Also  to  all  the  high  mandarins,  merchants,  and  the  public 
generally. 

"Thoughts  of  persons  read,  minds  laid  bare,  and  and  se- 
crets found  out 

•*  Hidden  things  discovered  by  the  heaven-bora  gift  of  the 
well-known  and  fully  appreciated  Tien  Sin. 

"  Tien  Sin,  Searcher  of  Hearts,  Reader  of  Thoughts. 

"  Fee,  a  hundered  taels." 

"  There  may  be  something  in  it,*'  observed  Hanrey.  "  Let 
him  have  a  go  at  you,  sir." 

"  He  shall,"  answered  Mofe. 

"  It  can't  hurt  you.  If  the  man,  Tien  Sin,  tells  the  truth 
about  you,  we  will  put  him  in  contact  with  my  little  Emily.'' 


2 18  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"What  for?" 

"  To  find  out  where  she  has  been.  If  he  can  read  thoughts, 
it  will  not  be  a  difficult  or  impossible  task." 

"  Well  thought  of,"  replied  Mole.  "  Harvey,  you  are  a 
genius." 

"  I  never  thought  so,  sir,"  answered  Harvey,  modestly. 

"  Didn't  I  train  you  ?  Have  I  not  made  Harkaway  what 
he  is  ?  I  was  your  schoolmaster." 

"  I  hope  we  are  a  credit  to  you." 

"  Sometimes,  not  always.     Yet  I  am  proud  of  you." 

"Why  should  there  not  be  a  thought-reader  in  China?" 
asked  Harkaway.  "  I  am  inclined  to  believe  in  him." 

"  And  I  too,"  said  Harvey. 

"  That  settles  it.  Carpet  him.  Bring  him  in,  Mongolia, 
or  whatever  your  Celestial  name  is  !  "  cried  Mole.  "  Let  us 
see  Tien  Sin." 

The  servant  departed. 

They  had  all  finished  breakfast ;  the  fragrant  tea  had  been 
drunk  ;  the  boiled  chickens,  poached  eggs,  and  fried  fish,  had 
vanished. 

Presently  a  tall,  thin  man,  with  a  cadaverous  countenance, 
but  having  a  somewhat  spiritual  air  about  him,  entered. 

He  made  a  profound  obeisance  to  the  company. 

"  Which  is  the  celebrated  Mandarin  Mole  of  whom  I  have 
heard  so  much  in  Hong- Kong  ? "  he  asked. 

"  I  am  that  humble  individual,"  the  professor  replied. 

He  rose  from  his  chair  and  grasped  the  thought-reader 
from  Pekin  by  the  hand. 

"  I  likee  Englishman,"  said  Tien  Sin.  "  I  was  brought 
uppee  in  a  merchant's  office  in  Canton.  All  English  vellee 
good." 

"  Tea  trade  ?  "  enquired  Mole. 

"  No,  silk,  very  large  business.  Ten  years  ago  I  began  to 
read  thoughts.  Go  to  Pekin  make  high  big  namee.  What 
you  want  to  know  ?  " 

"  Tell  me  where  I  put  my  cigar-case  last  night,  for  I'm 
blowed  if  I  can  remember,"  replied  Mole. 

''You  sittee  in  this  room  ?  " 

"  Yes.     It  was  here  that  I  was  sitting." 

"  Givee  your  hand,  so,"  said  Tien  Sin. 

He  took  the  professor  by  the  hand  and  began  to  lead  him 
round  the  room. 

At  length  he  stopped  near  an  easy  bamboo-chair. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA. 


2I9 


u  There,"  he  exclaimed,  pointing  underneath  it 

Mr.  Mole  stooped  down,  looked,  and  saw  his  missing  cigar- 
case. 

He  must  have  dropped  it  there  in  the  evening  when  he  was 
smoking,  before  going  to  bed 

"  Wonderful !  "  he  cried.     "  This  is  really  extraordinary." 

u  Oh  !  that  is  nothing,"  replied  Tien  Sin. 

"  Now  inform,  if  you  can,  what  I  am  thinking  about,"  said 
the  professor. 

"  You  thinkee  of  drinkee,"  was  the  calm  answer. 

Every  body  in  the  room  burst  out  laughing  at  this. 

"  What  kind  of  drink?"  continued  Mole. 

"  Rummee  and  water ;  vellee  little  water." 

"  Marvellous,"  said  Mole.  "  That  was  one  thing  I  had  in 
my  mind.  Since  I  was  in  the  United  States,  I  like  a  rum- 
cocktail  after  breakfast." 

"  How  was  he  to  know  that,  sir  ?  "  asked  Harvey. 

"  No,  no.  I  don't  say  he  did.  Now,  Mr.  Tien  Sin,  what 
else  am  I  thinking  of  ?  " 

The  thought-reader  tapped  his  forehead. 

He  still  retained  his  hold  of  the  professor's  hand. 

It  appeared  to  be  necessary  to  keep  the  touch  with  the 
person  he  was  en  rapport  with. 

Unless  he  did  so,  he  could  not  read  his  thoughts. 

"  Your  mind  is  set  on  going  a  voyage,"  said  Tien  Sin,  after 
a  lengthened  pause. 

"  By  heaven  !  you  are  right."  cried  Mole. 

"  You  seekee  a  big  treasure." 

"  Yes,  yes." 

**  It  is  hidden  on  an  island." 

"  If  vou  can  tell  that,  you  can  divine  any  thing." 

"  Me  knowee  all.     Me  readee." 

Harvey  came  forward. 

"  That  is  quite  enough  for  me,"  he  exclaimed.  "  Tien  Sin 
is  evidently  a  remarkable  person." 

1  "  A  man  in  a   hundred    thousand — in  a    million,''    said 
Harkaway. 

"  Let  us  take  him  up  stairs  to  little  Emily,"  continued  Har- 
vey. "  We  can  possibly  extract  her  secrets  from  her." 

"Come,"  said  Harkaway.  "Lose  no  time.  While  she 
sleeps  will  be  a  good  opportunity." 

"  You  wantee  more  ? "  asked  Tien  Sin. 

"  Yes.  You  shall  be  paid  for  your  services,"  replied  Harvey. 


220  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

They  all  accompanied  him  to  the  bedroom  where  Emily 
was  lying  asleep. 

Her  fair  hair  was  hanging  over  the  pillow,  and  one  hand 
was  stretched  on  the  quilt. 

She  looked  the  picture  of  innocence  in  sweet  repose. 

"What  shall  I  ask  the  child  ? "  Tien  Sin  enquired. 

"  Where  she  has  been  lately.  Whom  she  has  seen  within 
the  last  forty-eight  hours,"  replied  Harvey. 

"  The  mind  is  dead  in  sleepee." 

"  Must  I  wake  her  up  ?  " 

"  Me  no  read  thoughts  unless  people  are  wide  awakee. 
No  think  in  sleepee.  Only  dreamee." 

Harvey  touched  Emily  on  the  arm. 

She  awoke  with  a  start. 

"  Father  ! ''  she  ejaculated. 

"  Yes,  my  love.     It  is  I,"  replied  Harvey. 

"  Do  you  want  to  speak  to  me  ?     Oh  !     I  am  so  tired." 

"  We  thought  you  were  not  well,  so  we  have  brought  the 
doctor." 

"  Let  me  go  to  sleep,"  said  Emily,  drowsily. 

"Give  me  your  hand.  Feelee  pulsee,"  exclaimed  Tien 
Sin. 

She  stretched  out  her  hand  drowsily. 

For  fully  five  minutes  Tien  Sin  held  it  and  looked  her 
steadily  in  the  face. 

He  was  reading  her  thoughts. 

"  You  have  been  on  the  water,  my  child,"  he  said. 

"  How  do  you  know  that  ? "  asked  Emily. 

"  There  was  a  house  built  on  piles  in  a  lake.  It  comes 
back  to  you.  I  feel  you  shiver.  The  memory  makes  you 
afraid." 

"  What  are  you  talking  about  ?  " 

"  Come  !  What  is  the  man's  name — the  man  with  whom 
you  were  ?  Speak  !  " 

Tien  Sin  waved  his  hands  over  her  face. 

She  appeared  to  fall  into  a  mesmeric  trance. 

In  modern  phrase  she  was  hypnotised. 

Her  face  became  contracted,  and  she  was  evidently  strug- 
gling against  the  power  he  had  established  over  her. 

But  she  was  powerless  to  resist  his  influence. 

He  had  turned  her  thoughts  into  the  channel  he  required. 

For  ten  minutes  he  continued  to  hold  her  hand  and 
watch  her  countenance  narrowly. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  221 

Suddenly  he  exclaimed — 

"  Know  you  one  callee  Biga-ing-ming-ming  ?  " 

**  He  means  Bigamini,  '•  said  Harkaway. 

"  I  have  suspected  him  all  along ;  although,  not  being  cer- 
tain, I  did  not  like  to  say  so,"  remarked  Mole. 

"  Your  sagacity  is  wonderful,  sir." 

"  I  flatter  myself  that  I  am  no  fool,  and  can  see  as  far 
through  a  brick  wall  as  any  body.  Bigamini  is  the  man  who 
is  playing  us  tricks." 

"We  all  know  that  now.  Tell  us  something  we  don't 
know," 

"  You  may  deride  me ;  but  was  I  not  right  when  I  said 
down  stairs  that  it  was  Bigamini  ?  " 

"  The  thought-reader  has  said  it,  not  you." 

"  Oh  !  Harkaway,  what  a  wretched  treacherous  memory 
you  have  got.  Everyone  heard  me.  I  appeal  to  Harvey," 
said  the  professor,  with  an  aggrieved  air. 

"  This  is  the  first  I  have  heard  of  it,"  replied  Harvey. 

"  Heaven  help  us !  How  the  world  is  given  to  lying,"  con- 
tinued Mole,  holding  up  his  hands. 

"  Let  the  man  go  on.  Don't  interrupt,  please.  We  are  in 
the  middle  of  a  stance  !  "  cried  Harkaway. 

Tien  Sin  began  to  speak  again. 

"  The  house  is  built  on  piles  in  the  lake,  about  three  miles 
from  here,  in  an  easterly  direction,"  he  exclaimed. 

"  What  is  its  name  ?  " 

"  Lake  Lonely." 

"  I  have  seen  it,  and  noted  the  strange-looking  house  on 
the  wooden  piles,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off  a  shore,  but  I  never 
had  the  least  idea  who  lived  there,"  said  Harvey. 

"  I  have  not  been  in  that  direction." 

"  It  is  news  to  me,"  observed  Harkaway. 

"  Fancy  Bigamini  having  a  house  so  near  us !  " 

"  By  Jove  «  I  did  not  know  that  we  were  living  so  close  to 
a  hornet's  nest." 

It  fully  accounts  for  his  attacks  on  us." 

"  Attacks,"  said  Harkaway,  "  which  shall  be  returned  with 
the  interest  they  deserve.  Now,  Tien  Sin,  try  and  find  out  if 
she  has  seen  or  heard  any  thing  of  a  white  young  man  and  a 
black  man,  who  went  out  together  in  that  direction." 

"  Her  mind  is  a  blank  on  that  subject  She  no  tellee  what 
not  knowee,"  replied  the  thought-reader. 

**  Who  else  lives  in  this  Lake  House  ? " 


222  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  A  woman,  wife  of  Biga-ing-ming-ming,  and  two  men>  who 
are  the  servants." 

"  That  is  enough." 

The  party,  with  the  exception  of  Hilda,  who  remained  with 
her  child,  descended  to  the  lower  apartment. 

They  had  no  reason  whatever  to  doubt  the  genuineness  of 
the  information  Tien  Sin  had  extracted  from  Emily. 

It  had  the  ring  of  truth  and  probability  about  it. 

He  was  handsomely  rewarded  for  his  skill  and  trouble, 
receiving  more  than  he  had  asked. 

"  Can  I  offer  you  a  cup  of  tea,"  inquired  Mole,  "  and  a 
little  bird's-nest  soup  ? " 

Tien  Sin  did  not  refuse  this  offer,  and  sat  down  at  the 
table. 

"  What  am  I  thinking  of  now  ?  "  asked  Mole,  jocularly. 

"  How  clever  I  am  to  be  a  reader  of  thought,"  was  the 
quick  reply. 

"  So  I  was.  Mentally  I  was  admiring  his  talent,  or,  I 
should  rather  call  it,  his  guilt.  What  else  is  in  my  mind  ?  " 

"  You  not  likee  to  hearee,"  said  Tien  Sin. 

"  I'll  bet  he  can't  tell.     This  is  a  puzzler." 

"  Vellee  wellee.  Me  speak.  You  go  and  hide  in  garden 
with  rum  bottle  and  smoke,  because  afraid  to  go  fightee 
Bigamini.  That  what  you  think  do  presently." 

"  Me  afraid  to  fight  ? " 

"  Yes.     You  be  a  hider.     No  fightee." 

"  You  impudent  old  impostor  !  "  shouted  Mole  indignantly. 
"  You  contemptible  humbug !  You  rank  fraud  !  " 

"  Askee  for  truthers,"  said  Tien  Sin.     "  Me  tellee  no  lie." 

"  Get  out  of  ray  house  !  " 

Tien  Sin  coolly  finished  his  bird's-nest  soup. 

This  delicacy  is  made  from  edible,  gelatinous  seaweed, 
picked  up  by  gulls  and  dried  in  holes  in  the  rocks,  where 
they  build  their  nests. 

"  My  thanks  to  the  Honourable  Mandarin  Mole  and  all 
other  magnificents  present,"  he  exclaimed. 

Bowing  so  low  that  he  nearly  kootoo'd  he  left  the  room, 
rattling  in  his  pocket  the  taels  he  had  received. 

His  visit  had  been  of  great  value  to  Harkaway  and  Harvey. 

They  talked  the  matter  over,  and  decided  to  arm  them- 
selves and  go  at  once  to  the  lake. 

It  was  their  intention  to  capture  Bigamini,  and,  taking 
back  the  thousand  pounds  they  had  paid  for  Emily's  return, 


ADVENTURES  IX  CHINA. 


223 


convey  the  rascal  to  Hong-Kong,  and  hand  him  over  to  the 
-.  :..-.-. 

They  were  in  great  doubt  as  to  die  fate  of  young  Jack 
and  Monday 

It  was  possible  that  they  were  captured. 

Equally  possible  was  it  that  they  had  been  kffled. 

Harkaway  was  ill  at  ease  when  he  thought  of  his  son  and 
ais  faithful  friend  Monday. 

He  resolved  to  proceed  with  the  utmost  caution. 

It  was  a  case  in  which  k  behoved  him  to  look  well  before 
be  leaped. 

They  took  their  pistols  as  well  as  rifles,  and  were  about 
to  start,  when  Mole  returned  from  the  window,  where  he 
had  been  standing,  and  looked  angrily  at  them. 

He  had  been,  like  Achilles,  sulking  in  his  tent,  at  what  the 
thought-reader,  Tien  Sin,  had  said. 

Also  was  he  annoyed  because  Harkaway  and  Harvey  bad 
not  consulted  him  as  to  their  plan  of  action. 


CHAPTER  x  x  x  i  il, 

M*.  MOLE'S  VALOUR,  AXD  WHAT  CAME  OF  IT. 

14 1  DOX*T  take  it  very  kindly  of  you  two  young  men,"  he 
exclaimed,  -  to  arrange  to  go  after  Bigamini  and  not  invite 
me  to  accompany  you." 

"  Is  your  life  insured?"  asked  Jack. 

"Why  do  yon  inquire?" 

"  You  might  lose  it,  if  you  are  too  venturesome.* 

"  Nonsense !  If  yon  want  to  know,  I  can  inform  yon  that 
I  am  insured  in  two  Twnrn,  each  for  two  thousand  five 
hundred.  I  can  tefl  yon  more  than  that,  Harkaway  and 
Harvey/* 

44  Go  ahead,  sir,  whfle  you  are  in  a  communicative  mood." 

"I  have  left  both  of  you  something— how  much  shall 
remain  a  secret." 

»  That  b  extremely  kind  of  you." 

"Beware I"  cried  Mole.  " If  you  do  not  treat  me  with 
more  •»••••  l  ilii  in.  I  shall  add  a  codicil  and  cut  you  off.* 

"Do»1  be  Texed,"  said  Harkaway. 


224  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  How  can  I  help  it,  when  my  courage  is  called  into  ques- 
tion  ?  " 

"We  did  not  ask  you  to  come,  because  Tien  Sin 

"  Enough  of  him  !  The  fellow  is  a  mountebank,  nothing 
more.  I  call  him  an  automatic  chatterer." 

"  He  revealed  some  strange  things." 

"  Bah  !  Put  a  few  taels  in  the  slot,  and  he  will  jaw  for  an 
hour.  When  I  was  a  tutor  at  Oxford,  and  was  paid  for 
lecturing,  I  could  keep  on  talking  for  an  hour." 

"You  can  come  if  you  like,"  replied  Harkaway.  "We 
do  not  want  to  prevent  you." 

"  Do  all  the  fighting,  and  we  will  look  on,"  said  Harvey. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Mole,  helping  himself  to  a  nip  of  rum, 
"  that  would  just  suit  you  to  the  ground,  down  to  the  very 
pavement.  You  want  me  to  lead  the  van,  as  usual." 

"  No,  we  do  not." 

"Tush I  it  was  always  thus.  Haven't  1  lost  two  legs? 
Don't  I  go  about  with  wooden  ones,  having  simply  the  aid 
of  a  crutch  ?  " 

"  That  is  true  enough." 

"  IB  whose  service  did  I  lose  my  limbs  ?     Answer  me  that." 

"  Is  it  a  conundrum,  sir  ? "  asked  Harkaway,  winking  at 
Harvey. 

"  No,  it  is  not.  I  would  be  ashamed  to  joke  about  such  a 
subject.  For  the  loss  of  one  leg  I  have  to  thank  this  scoun- 
drel Bigamini,  and  I  want  revenge." 

"You  shall  have  it." 

"  Is  it  not  my  right  ?  I  have  been  maimed  through  serving 
and  accompanying  you  in  your  adventures." 

"  Make  haste  and  equip  yourself,"  said  Jack. 

The  conversation  was  growing  irksome. 

Mr.  Mole  was  inclined  to  find  fault,  lament,  nag,  and 
quarrel  generally. 

"  Hadn't  you  better  take  your  monkey  ?  "  asked  the  pro- 
fessor, sneeringly.  "  I  am  sure  he  would  be  of  more  use 
than  I  should." 

"  Ha  \  very  human,"  observed  Jack. 

"  Kind  of  family  likeness  between  the  two,"  said  Harvey. 

"  Do  you  want  to  madden  me  with  your  taunts  ? "  cried 
Mole. 

"  Don't  rib  up  for  nothing,"  replied  Jack.  "  If  Nero  is  your 
first  cousin,  you  can't  help  it.  I  will  take  you  both." 

"  Let  me  lead.     I  will  show  you  the  way  to  victory." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA. 


225 


•*  By  a3  means." 

"  lake  Caesar  the  Great,  I  will  exclaim  —  '  I  came,  I  saw,  I 
Conquered  !  '  Yes,  alone  I'll  do  it.  Here  is  my  rifle  and  my 
cartridge-belt  ;  I  want  no  more.  I  feel  that  this  is  going  to 
be  a  glorious  day.  I  shall  cover  myself  with  laurels.  We 
will  storm  the  Lake  House,  if  the  garrison  does  not  surrender 
at  the  first  summons." 

"  Brave  words,  sir  !  " 

"  From  a  brave  man,  as  you  know  me  to  be.  Honour  the 
brave,"  rejoined  Mr.  Mole,  arming  himself. 

Going  into  the  garden,  Harkaway  called  Nero. 

The  animal  was  perched  on  a  branch  of  a  tree,  but  at  once 
jumped  down  when  he  heard  his  name. 

"We  are  going  after  your  young  master.  Will  you 
come?"  asked  Jack. 

The  monkey  uttered  a  peculiar  cry. 

He  seemed  to  thoroughly  understand  what  was  said  to 
him. 

There  was  a  thick  bamboo  lying  on  the  ground. 

He  picked  it  up  and  shouldered  it,  as  if  it  were  a  musket 
putting  himself  by  Harkaway's  side. 

Mole  and  Harvey  joined  them. 

"  Look  at  the  intelligent  animal,"  exclaimed  Harkaway. 
"  He  knows  as  much  as  you,  sir." 

"  Please  don't  place  a  Simian  —  a  half-bred  gorilla,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  ape  tribe,  on  a  level  with  me,"  replied  the  pro- 
fessor. 

"  You  shall  march  together." 

uNo!  I'm  hanged  if  we  do!  I  go  first.  I  am  the 
leader  of  this  exploration  party,  but  the  ape  can  take  a  back 
seat." 

"  As  you  like.     Harvey  and  I  will  follow.     Proceed." 

"  You  said  you  knew  this  lake,  Dick,"  continued  Mole, 

"  Very  well.     I  have  walked  as  far  several  times." 

"Which  way  shall  I  go?" 

"  Straight  ahead  as  the  bird  flies,  and  you  can't  miss  it.n 

a  I'm  off,  like  an  arrow  from  a  bow." 

Saying  this,  Mr.  Mole  made  a  start. 

To'  his  great  annoyance,  Nero  walked  up  to  him  and  took 
the  position  of  rear-rank  man. 

Hearing  something  behind  him,  Mole  turned  his  head. 


He  shook  his  fist  savagely  at  the  monkey. 
cried  ;  "  or  I  shall  hit  you. 


11  Go  back  !  "  he  cried 


226  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Nero  bared  his  gums  and  chattered,  but  he  did  not  move. 

"  Confound  the  beast ! "  muttered  Mole.  "  I  don't  want 
to  be  mocked  by  an  ape." 

There  was  no  help  for  it,  however.  Nero  would  not  move 
away,  and  Mole  had  to  go  on,  followed  by  his  comical-looking 
attendant 

Owing  to  his  wooden  legs,  the  professor  did  not  make 
quick  progress. 

It  was  hard  work  to  get  over  the  sand,  even  with  the  aid 
of  a  crutch. 

Harkaway  and  Harvey  lounged  along,  smoking  and  chat- 
ting, about  two  hundred  yards  behind. 

"  I  reckon  we  shall  have  Bigamini  this  time,"  said  Hark- 
away,  "and  he  shall  pay  the  penalty  of  his  many  crimes." 

"  What  will  be  done  to  him,  if  we  catch  him  and  hand 
him  over  to  the  police  ?  "  queried  Harvey. 

"We  can  prove  that  he  is  the  agent  and  associate  of 
pirates.  They  will  execute  him,  I  should  think." 

"  He  has  as  many  lives  as  a  cat." 

"  It  is  my  opinion  that  he  has  come  to  his  last  chance." 

"  So  I  hope..  The  dastardly  spy  was  always  a  thorn  in 
our  sides." 

"  You  are  right.  He  has  given  us  a  lot  of  trouble," 
replied  Jack !  "  and  so  he  is  now." 

"  No  doubt  the  fellow  is  in  league  with  a  gang.  They 
receive  the  stolen  goods  from  the  pirates,  when  the  ships  are 
plundered  and  burnt,  and  they  are  feathering  their  nests," 
suggested  Harvey. 

"Of  course.     Hunston  has  put  him  into  that." 

"  They  have  always  been  bad,  those  two — no  redemption 
for  them.  They  don't  try  to  go  straight." 

"  If  they  did  try,  they  couldn't." 

"  What  is  your  opinion  about  young  Jack  and  Monday  ? " 
asked  Harvey. 

"  I  feel  very  anxious  about  them." 

"  So  do  I.  They  must  have  fallen  into  Bigamini's 
hands." 

"Would  he  kill  them?" 

"  I  do  not  think  so.  He  would  either  hold  them  to  ransom, 
as  he  did  Emily,  or  somehow  endeavour  to  send  them  to 
Hunston  and  the  pirate  king. " 

"  We  must  stop  that." 

"  Exactly.     I  hope  to  be  able  to  do  so.     The  day  is  young 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA. 


227 


yet  They  have  not  been  missing  so  very  long,"  answered 
Harkaway. 

"  Maj  good  luck  be  on  our  side." 

"  So  say  I." 

"  Jack  is  a  splendid  specimen  of  the  courageous,  lion- 
hearted  British  boy,  and  I  shall  never  get  over  it  if  any  thing 
happened  to  him." 

"  Don't  speak  about  it,  Dick." 

Harkaway  was  visibly  affected  by  the  thought  of  his  son's 
danger  and  that  of  Monday. 

Seeing  this,  Harvey  dropped  the  subject. 

"  It  strikes  me,"  he  exclaimed,  after  a  pause,  "  tbat  we 
shall  not  easily  get  at  Bigamini." 

"Why  not  ?  "  inquired  Harkaway. 

"  If  his  house  is  built  on  piles  in  the  lake,  there  is  water 
between  us,  and  we  shall  want  a  boat." 

"  What  then  ?  " 

"  If  we  can  procure  a  boat,  which  is  doubtful,  he  may  fire 
at  us." 

"  Should  he  do  that,  we  can  fire  back.  According  to  the 
law  of  China,  if  we  can  shoot  him,  it  would  be  justifiable,  be- 
cause it  is  in  self-defence,"  said  Harkaway. 

"  He  is  so  confoundedly  artful,"  mused  Harvey.  "  You 
never  know  how,  when,  and  where  to  have  that  man." 

"  True.     The  spirit  of  evil  is  incarnate  within  him." 

In  a  short  time  they  came  in  sight  of  the  lake. 

The  house  was  distinctly  visible  in  the  glorious  sunlight 

No  one  was  to  be  seen  at  the  windows,  or  in  the  veran- 
dahs. 

There  was  a  clump  of  trees,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
lake. 

It  afforded  a  cool  and  safe  shelter. 

"  Let  us  wait  here  and  see  what  old  Mole  will  do,"  ex- 
claimed Harevy. 

"  Perhaps  he  will  come  to  grief  without  us,"  replied 
Harkaway. 

"  I  don't  see  how  he  can." 

"  It  would  be  a  pity  any  thing  happened  to  the  old  buffer." 

"  So  it  would.  I  should  be  the  last  to  wish  it,"  Harvey 
answered. 

They  both  liked  the  professor  too  well  to  wish  him 
any  harm. 

He  had  become  almost  like  a  father  to  them. 


228  JACK  HARK  A  WAY  AND 

From  their  boyhood  up  to  now  they  had  been  associated 
with  one  another. 

"  Mole's  more  than  half  tight,"  continued  Harkaway.  "  I 
hope  he  won't  make  an  ass  of  himself." 

"  How  can  he  ?  "  queried  Harvey. 

"  He  generally  contrives  to  do  so." 

"  Wait  and  see.  We  can  come  to  his  rescue  in  a  few 
minutes,  by  running  over  the  flat  to  the  lake." 

"  I  can't  see  anyone  about." 

"  Nor  I." 

It  was  very  amusing  to  see  the  monkey  marching  behind 
Mole. 

The  imitative  creature  limped  and  stumbled  every  now 
and  then,  as  if  he,  too,  had  something  the  matter  with  his 
legs. 

When  Mole  reached  the  landing-stage  he  looked  at  the 
house,  and  then  turned  his  head. 

Harkaway  and  Harvey,  hiding  behind  the  trees,  were 
nowhere  to  be  seen. 

"  Deserted  !  "  he  ejaculated.     "  Pooh  !  " 

He  gave  vent  to  a  sigh  of  disgust. 

"  Paltry  cowards  !"  he  continued.  "They  are  afraid  to 
bear  the  brunt  of  the  battle,  and  put  an  old  man  forward." 

Then  he  saw  the  monkey. 

"There's  that  infernal  ape  at  my  heels,"  he  went  on. 
"  Plague  take  the  beast !  " 

Nero  had  sunk  down  on  his  four  legs. 

He  began  to  scrape  the  boards,  chattering  all  the  while  in 
the  most  excited  manner. 

The  monkey  was  strangely  agitated. 

Something  of  an  extraordinary  nature  had  moved  him  all 
at  once. 

"  Keep  quiet,  you  wretch  !  "  said  Mole.  "  You  won't  find 
any  nuts  under  there." 

Suddenly  Mole  heard  a  faint  voice. 

It  seemed  to  come   from  the  bowels  of  the  earth. 

"  Help  !     For  the  love  of  heaven,  help  ! "  was  the  moan. 

It  was  beneath  his  feet. 

What  could  it  mean  ? 

From  whom  did  it  emanate  ? 

He  stooped  down  to  listen. 

It  struck  him  that  the  tones  were  familiar,  but  the  voice 
vas  so  hoarse  and  weak  that  he  could  not  be  sure. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  339 

The  professor  was  about  to  speak,  when  there  was  the 
j|A»iuB  of  a  gun,  and  a  bullet  •*«*^*1  past  bis  ear. 

He  stood  upright,  and,  looking  at  tbe  Lake  House,  saw 


fetter  had  noticed  Mole,  and  recognised  him  at 
once. 

Going  icto  his  nfle-gaDerjf  be  discfaaiged  a  gun  at  him. 

Mole  retaraed  the  shot 

Btgami  n  i  was  artful  enough  to  sink  on  his  knees,  and 
<yaped  unhurt. 

The  next  minute  he  pulled  the  cord  of  the  death-trap. 

In  a  second  tbe  boards  collapsed. 

Mr.  Mole  and  the  monkey  went  down  into  the  hole,  the 
boards  resumed  their  former  position,  and  Kgamini  Happed 
his  hands,  as  if  to  applaud  himself. 

Harkaway  and  Harvey  had  witnessed  this  strange  scene 


So  rapidly  had  everything  OHIHIBU^  that  they  COWMI   not 


Mole  and  Nero  had  certainly  diiBjipr  in  il 

Where  had  they  gone  to? 

That  »a<  tlw  p*nJ».in|.  *f**Am*  tfcrf  utterly  In  alili » ill 

tfl*»ir  c^-n<c*^c 

"What  has  become  of  Mole  and  the  monkey?"  asked 
Harkaway,  in  amazement. 

"Tbe  earth  opened  and  swallowed  them  up/"  replied 
Harvey. 

"Itonry  does  that  kind  of  thing  when  there  is  an  earth- 
quake;  there  has  been  none  in  this  instance.  We  saw  earth- 
quakes in  UmbL" 

"Plenty  of  them." 

"Ten  me  what  it  means." 

"Some  infernal  trickery," said  Harvey. 

"  Kgamini  fired  at  Mole,  he  missed,  and  was  shot  at »  return. 
Then  this  happened.*1 

"We  must  examine  into  the  matter.     It  is  a  trap." 

"Look  out  for  his  rifit." 

"  We  wfll  do  it  in  this  way,"  erriahned  Harkaway,  who 
was  as  clear-headed  as  he  was  daring  and  adventurous. 
••You  keep  your  eyes  on  "*%,"•"•«,  rifle  in  hand." 

"R%btyouare." 

"  If  he  does  not  retire  when  we  appear  within  range, 
•boot  him  tike  a  dog,  and  risk  the  law  of  the  land." 

t 


230  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  You  may  depend  upon  me,"  said  Harvey. 

"  Don't  hesitate  a  moment." 

"Very  well.  I  understand.  Death  to  him  or  me," 
answered  Harvey. 

They  emerged  from  their  shelter  and  advanced  towards 
the  lake. 

Harkaway  did  not  busy  himself  with  him. 

It  was  his  task  to  examine  the  ground,  and  find  out  the 
reason  for  Mole's  disappearance. 

A  wild  cry  of  rage  was  heard  from  the  house. 

Bigamini  saw  that  he  was  beset. 

How  many  people  were  behind  Harkaway  and  Harvey  he 
could  not  tell. 

Perhaps  there  were  several  in  ambush  under  the    trees. 

He  had  a  powerful  field-glass,  which  he  put  to  his  eyes. 

There  could  be  no  doubt  that  the  redoubtable  Harkaway 
had  found  him  out,  and  tracked  him  to  his  lair. 

If  there  was  one  man  in  the  world  he  was  more  afraid  of 
than  another,  it  was  Jack  Harkaway.  The  latter  had  a  very 
heavy  score  to  settle  with  him. 

What  mercy  could  he  expect,  if  captured  ? 

His  position  was,  at  that  moment,  a  desperate  one. 

Bigamini  retreated  to  his  rifle  gallery,  and  fired  two  shots 
at  long  range. 

They  did  no  harm  whatever. 

Being  in  the  house  and  under  shelter,  nothing  could  be 
seen  of  him, 

"  Halt ! "  said  Jack.  "  The  fellow  is  firing  under  cover. 
We  shall  be  potted  like  shrimps,  if  we  don't  look  out." 

"  What  is  to  be  done  ?  "  asked  Harvey. 

"  I  am  at  a  loss  to  find  out." 

"  He  has  the  advantage  all  round,"  said  Harvey.  "  If  I 
could  see  him,  I  should  not  care." 

"  There  are  holes  in  the  wall  he  fires  through." 

"  Then  we  are  baffled." 

"  It  looks  like  it.     Hang  the  luck  !  " 

"  But  he  is  discovered  and  cornered.  If  we  can  not  get  at 
him,  he  can't  get  away." 

"  Why  can't  he  ?  I  can  see  boats  moored  under  the  house. 
We  are  on  this  side  of  the  lake.  All  he  has  to  do,  if  he 
wants  to  bolt,  is  to  get  into  a  boat  and  scull  to  the  other 
side." 

"  And  get  clear  off,  eh  ? " 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA. 


231 


a  Exactly.  We  can't  stop  him,"  replied  Harkaway,  in  a 
tone  of  deep  vexation. 

All  at  once  they  heard  the  sound  of  cart-wheels. 

A  Chinaman  was  to  be  seen  driving  a  horse  that  drew  a 
waggon  full  of  ricestraw. 

It  was  a  large  vehicle,  and  contained  a  considerable 
quantity  of  straw,  amounting  to  over  two  tons  in  weight. 

"  I  have  an  idea,"  continued  Jack.  "  We  will  buy  that 
straw." 

"  What  use  will  that  be  ?  "  asked  Harvey. 

"  My  dear  Dick,  don't  you  see  that  it  will  make  a  wall 
impervious  to  bullets." 

"Well?" 

"  If  Bigamini  fires  at  all,  we  shall  be  safe  behind  it.  Let 
us  buy  it.  and  make  a  rampart  or  a  bulwark  of  it  on  the 
landing-stage.  Then  I  can  examine  the  boards,  see  where 
Mole  has  vanished  to,  and  deal  with  the  spy  afterwards." 

"  Excellent !     Nothing  could  be  better,"  replied  Harvey. 

Harkaway  walked  up  to  the  Chinaman,  who  halted  his 
horse  as  he  saw  him  coming. 

"  Wantee  me  ?  "  asked  the  man. 

"Where  are  you  going  with  that  load  of  straw  ?"  said 
Jack. 

"  To  the  Mandarin  Mole.    Litter  for  horsee." 

"  I  will  buy  it  from  you.  How  much  ?  You  can  get  some 
more  for  Mr.  Mole." 

"  I'm  gottee  plenty.     What  you  givee  ?  " 

They  bargained  for  a  brief  space,  and  at  last  agreed  upon 
a  price. 

Jack  immediately  put  his  hand  in  his  pocket  and  produced 
the  money. 

"  Where  I  takee  it  ?  "  asked  the  driver,  who  was  a  small 
farmer,  living  in  the  neighbourhood  . 

"  You  see  that  wooden  landing-stage  at  the  lake- 
shore  ?w 

"Yes.    That  belongee  to  Biga-ing-ming-ming." 

"  I  am  a  friend  of  his.  He  wants  some  straw.  In  fact, 
he  told  me  to  get  him  some.  Put  ft  down  on  the  boards  in 
a  kind  of  thick  wall,  six  feet  high,  close  to  the  water." 

"  Vellee  goodee,"  replied  the  farmer. 

He  at  once  turned  his  horse's  head  and  took  the  waggon 
to  the  place  indicated,  where  he  deposited  the  straw  as 
directed. 


232  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Bigamini  did  not  appear  to  comprehend  the  meaning  ot 
this  manoeuvre. 

He  might  have  shot  the  man  or  the  horse,  but  he  did  not 
attempt  to  do  so. 

In  a  quarter  of  an  hour  the  straw  was  piled  up  as  Jack 
had  ordered  it  to  be. 

The  driver,  with  a  customary  Chinese  bow  and  smile, 
whipped  off  his  horse,  and  went  back  home. 

He  was  only  too  glad  to  be  rid  of  his  load  so 
quickly. 

Bigamini  began  to  fire  again,  but  the  bullets  lodged  harm- 
lessly in  the  thick  wall  of  straw. 

He  was  furious  with  rage  at  the  clever  trick  that  had  been 
played  upon  him. 

Between  the  sharp  crack  of  his  rifle  his  frantic  shouts  could 
be  heard. 

Harkaway  sank  on  his  knees  on  the  platform. 

Muffled  cries  came  from  below. 

"  Help  !  help  !  "  was  cried  loudly. 

"That's  Jack's  voice,  I'll  swear  !  "  he  muttered.  "That's 
Mole's — that's  Monday's.  They  are  all  in  some  accursed 
pit." 

"  How  does  it  open  ?  "  Harvey  asked. 

"  I  am  trying  to  find  out." 

He  had  a  strong  hunting-knife  in  his  pocket. 

With  this  he  began  to  prise  up  the  boards  where  they 
joined  in  the  middle. 

It  was  hard  work. 

The  perspiration  rolled  down  his  face  in  streams. 

At  last,  by  almost  superhuman  exertion  and  putting  forth 
all  his  great  strength,  he  succeeded. 

The  bolt  gave  way. 

"  Back  I "  shouted  Harvey,  as  the  boards  moved. 

They  both  gave  a  spring,  and  luckily  managed  to  get  on 
the  edge  of  the  pit. 

When  the  boards  fell  down,  the  sun  shone  upon  the 
imprisoned  victims  below. 

Nero  made  good  use  of  his  claws. 

He  contrived  to  climb  up  the  sides,  and  dripping  with  the 
water  in  which  he  had  been  swimming,  was  the  first  to  reach 
dry  land. 

His  delight  at  his  escape  knew  no  bounds. 

He  capered  about  and  chattered  incessantly. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  233 

Young  Jade  and  Monday  presented  a  pitiable   spectacle, 
as  they  were  chilled  to  the  bone  and  nearly  exhausted. 

"  Courage,"  exclaimed  Harkaway. 

"  All  right,  father,"  replied  young  Jack  ;  "  we  are  not  dead 
ret." 

"There  am  ran  lack  in  the  old  horse  yet,"  said  Monday. 

"  Who  have  we  got  to  thank  for  it  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

**Bigaminv'replied  Harkaway. 

"  The  wretch.     I  half  suspected  it." 

Mr.  Mole  was  up  to  his  neck  in  the  water. 

He  bad  broken  his  two  wooden  legs  in  falling  down. 

Harkaway  looked  around  for  some  means  of  getting 
out. 

There  was  no  ladder  to  be  got. 

Fortunately  his  eye  fell  upon  a  stout  rope,  which  the  farmer 
had  lost  out  of  his  cart 

It  was  lying  on  the  ground,  within  a  few  yards  of  him. 

"  Hurrah  !  the  very  thing,"  he  said. 

"  Capital  !     We  can  haul  them  up  one  by  one,"  replied 
Harvey. 

Harkaway  made  some  knots  in  the  rope  and  lowered  it  into 
the  pit. 

"  Catch  hold  of  that,"  he  cried. 

u  Mole  first,"  answered  Jack.     "  He  says  he  has  broken  his 
wooden  pins." 

**  Fasten  the  rope  under  his  arms." 

This  was  done,  and  the  professor,  more  dead  than  alive, 
was  drawn  up,  and  laid  in  the  sun  to  recover. 

It  was  comparatively  easy  to  hoist  up  Jack  and  Monday. 

Their  legs  were  so  enfeebled  by  standing  in  the  water  for 
so  many  hours,  that  they  were  obliged  to  sit  down. 

In  a  few  words,  Harkaway  informed  them  of  all  that  had 
happened  since  they  started  on  their  memorable  scout. 

"Thank  heaven,  Emily  is  safe,"  said  Jack.     "You  are 
always  up  to  date,  father." 

u  If  I  wasn't,  I  don't  know  what  would  become  of  you." 

"  What  a  devilish  contrivance  this  pit  is." 

"  Worthy  of  the  evil  mind  that  designed  it,"  replied  Hark- 
away. 

The  question  now  was  how  to  get  at  and  capture  Biga- 
mini. 

From  his  behaviour,  they  had  a  right  to  treat  him  as  a  wild 
beast  or  a  brigand. 


234  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND 

They  fully  intended  to  do  so. 

In  a  short  time  young  Jack  and  Monday  recovered  tne 
use  of  their  limbs. 

But  they  were  not  in  a  fit  state  for  fighting. 

They  wanted  food  and  rest  immediately. 

Harkaway  pulled  out  some  of  the  boards  which  were 
hanging  over  the  pitfall,  and,  with  the  aid  of  the  rope,  con- 
structed a  rude  litter. 

On  this  he  placed  Mole,  who  was  very  faint,  and  told  his 
son  and  Monday  to  carry  him  back  to  the  house. 

This  they  did  willingly,  for  they  saw  they  would  be  of  no 
use  at  the  lakeside. 

When  they  were  gone  Harkaway  and  Harvey  held  a  con- 
sultation. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

BIOAMINI   IS  ATTACKED  IN  AN  UNEXPECTED  MANNER. 

"  THE  dastardly  little  wretch  knows  that  he  is  master  of 
the  situation,"  exclaimed  Harkaway,  "  and  defies  us." 

"Why  should  he  be  master  ?"  asked  Harvey. 

"  Because  we  cannot  get  at  him.  If  he  had  built  his  house 
on  land,  it  would  be  a  different  thing.  There  is  water 
between  us." 

"  Let  us  go  to  Hong- Kong  and  get  the  police.  They  will 
discover  some  means  of  dealing  with  him." 

"  No,  no  !  "  cried  Harkaway  ;  "  he  is  discovered  and  will 
take  to  flight.  He  has  boats.  What  is  to  prevent  him  from 
scuttling  to  the  other  side  of  the  lake  at  any  moment,  and 
getting  clear  off  ?  " 

'  If  we  had  a  boat — " 

'  He  would  shoot  us,  before  we  could  get  near  his  dwell- 
ing," Harkaway  interrupted. 

'  Then  we  can  do  nothing." 

'  I  am  afraid  not." 

'  Had  we  not  better  go  home,  then  ?  Emily  is  recovered 
— young  Jack,  Monday,  and  Mole  are  all  right.  We  can 
start  at  once  for  Greece  and  the  treasure  island." 

"  There  is  nothing  to  prevent  us,  but  I  should  like  to  get 
the  thousand  pounds  back  that  Bigamini  has  extorted  from 
us." 


ADVEXTITRES  W  CBIA'A.  235 

it  wiH  be  as  weO  to  leave  it  alone." 
has  fairly  cornered  us.    I  hate  to  he  done," 


Be  bit  his  lip  with  vexation. 

At  this  moment  Nero  came  up  to  them. 

The  monkey  had  not  gone  back  to  tne  plantation  with  his 
young  master. 

He  had  been  looking  at  the  house  on  the  lake,  and  was 
chaKeving,  as  if  he  wanted  to  talk. 

-That  creature  has  got  some  idea  in  his  head,  only 
he  cannot  make  as  understand  what  it  is,"  ••••^••'Hf 
Harvey. 

84  He  is  a  most  intelligent  animal,**  replied  Jack. 

"I  believe  he  would  go  and  fight  Bigamini,  if  hecould 
swim,  only  that  is  not  on-  of  his  accomplishments" 

Suddenly  a  large  Newfoundland  dog  named  Caesar,  belong- 
ing to  Harkaway,,  ran  up  to  his  master. 

Caesar,  had  been  made  a  present  to  Jack  by  the  consul  in 
Hong-Kong,  who  had  a  breed  of  these  famous  dogs. 

He  was  about  two  years  old,  and  a  fine  4""-"">"" 

Missing  hb  master,  he  had  tracked  him  to  the  lake. 

ft  happened  that  Nero  and  Caesar  were  great  friends,  the 
dog  pei mil  I  ing  the  monkey  to  take  any  liberty  he  Eked  with 

Nero  was  accustomed  to  ride  on  Caesar's  back. 

When  he  saw  him  he  chattered  to  him,  and  raised  his 
pom  in  the  direction  of  the  lake. 

The  next  moment  he  sprang  on  his  back,  and  the  dog  ran 
towards  die  water  and  plunged  into  it. 

Nero  kept  his  seat,  holding  on  to  one  of  the  Newfound- 
land's ears. 

Tbe  latter  swam  straight  to  the  Lake  House. 

Owing  to  the  pile  of  rice  straw  which  protected  them 
from  rifle  bullets  and  observation,  Harkaway  and  his  old 
friend  were  unable  to  watch  the  animal's  proceedings. 

~HK.jp  were  icijf  anxious  to  do  so,  however. 

"There  is  something  up  with  those  two,"  observed 
Harvey. 

"ShaH  we  crawl  round  the  corner  and  look?**  asked 


Hi:-;:.-  L; 
"Bvalli 


I  believe  Nero  is  going  to  attack  the  kmg 


236  JACK  HARKAWAY  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  It  would  not  surprise  me,  but  I  should  not  like  the  poor 
thing  to  come  to  any  grief." 

"  Nor  I.     Young  Jack  is  so  much  attached  to  him." 

They  went  down  on  their  hands  and  knees,  and  got  into  a 
position  where,  without  being  clearly  distinguishable  them- 
selves,  they  could  see  the  house. 

Bigamini,  rifle  in  hand,  was  seated  in  the  verandah,  smoking 
a  cigar  and  scanning  the  shore. 

There  was  a  look  of  placid  contentment  on  his  face,  as  if 
he  feared  nobody. 

In  the  water  was  Cassar,  with  Nero  seated  on  his  back, 
making  his  way  slowly  but  surely  towards  the  house. 

The  sun  was  high  in  the  heavens,  and  a  dull  haze  hung 
over  the  surface  of  the  lake. 

Bigamini  did  not  see  the  dog  and  his  companion,  the 
monkey. 

He  was  looking  out  for  human  beings,  not  animals, 

The  dog,  swimming  nobly  and  being  thoroughly  at  home 
in  the  water — as  all  Newfoundlands  are —  reached  the  ladder. 

In  an  instant  the  monkey  landed,  and  ran  up  the  steps. 

Caesar  paddled  about  in  the  water,  evidently  waiting  for 
him. 

His  sagacious  instinct  told  him  that  he  was  required  to 
take  Nero  back  again. 

"Look  out  for  high  jinks,"  Harvey  said.  "The  ape  is 
going  to  maul  Mr.  Bigamini." 

"  It  seems  so,"  replied  Harkaway. 

"They  have  been  in  contact  before,  and  monkeys,  like 
elephants,  you  know,  have  revengeful  memories." 

"  That  they  have.     I  should  not  like  to  offend  Nero." 

"  Nor  I.     Keep  quiet.     Watch  him." 

Nero  reached  the  top  step  without  attracting  the  attention 
of  Bigamini,  who  seemed  to  be  rather  sleepy. 

He  occasionally  applied  his  lips  to  a  tumbler  on  a  table  by 
his  side,  which  contained  brandy.  The  monkey  noiselessly 
approached  him. 

Getting  behind  the  man,  he  made  a  spring,  perched  on  hia 
shoulders,  and  began  to  scratch  his  face. 

At  the  same  time  he  bit  his  ears,  and  with  his  sharp  teeth 
tore  the  skin  from  his  forehead. 

In  a  very  short  time  Bigamini  was  streaming  with  blood, 
which  blinded  him. 

He  could  not  see  who  his  assailant  was. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA. 


237 


His  nose  and  mouth  were  clawed,  and  his  hair  torn  oat 
by  the  roots. 

He  fell  off  his  seat  to  the  floor  of  the  verandah  hi  a 
pitiable  condition. 

-LoMungS  Hi  Li!  help!  Come  to  me!"  he  yeQed. 

The  monkey  retreated  when  he  began  to  shout,  descended 
the  steps,  sprang  lightly  on  Cesar  s  back,  and  was 


He  waved  his  tail  triumphantly  in  the  air. 

It  was  dear  that  he  thought  he  had  done  a  very  brave  and 
grand  action. 

The  whote  thing  had  been  visible  to  Harkaway  and  Harvey. 

They  had  en  joyed  it  immensely. 

"  By  Jove !"  said  Jack,  "  he  has  polished  off  old  KgammL" 

"  I  never  saw  such  a  thing  in  my  life,"  replied  Harvey. 

"  He  can't  see,  or  he'd  shoot." 

"His  men  are  going  to  do  so,  though.  Two  Chinese  have 
come  op  with  rifles." 

"  Retreat  at  the  double." 

"No  fear." 

They  crawled  back  again  to  their  shelter,  just  in  time  to 
escape  a  couple  of  bullets.  These  were  fired  by  Lo  Mung 
and  Hi  Li. 

A  third  shot  followed. 

There  was  beard  a  wild  howL 

Czsar  had  just  reached  the  bank.  Nero  had  jwmped  off 
his  back,  bat  die  dog  was  shot  dead. 

The  faithful  beast  sank  to  rise  no  more. 

Nero  took  one  glance  at  him,  which  seemed  to  be  foil  of 
sorrow,  and  went  behind  die  straw. 

He  crouched  down  at  Harkaway's  feet,and  deposited  a 
fendfmofhair. 

It  was  a  portion  of  diat  which  he  had  despoOed  figamnruf. 

"Where's  die  dog?"  asked  Jack. 

Harvey  looked  round  the  corner. 

"Dead  as  adoor-naO,"  he  replied. 

"Poor  beast!    Keep  your  eye  on  the.house,  Dick, 
don't  want  you  to  expose  yourself,  but  I  want  to  know  what  is 
going  on." 

"Ill  be  on  die  job.    The  two  Chinamen  are  taking  Biga- 
i  indoors." 
He's  badly  hurt,  I  expect.    Good  old  Nero !  IHgive  you 

big  bunch  of  bananas  when  we  get  home." 


a 


238  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"  Do  you  mean  to  stay  here  long  ? "  asked  Harvey. 

"  I'll  stay  an  hour  or  two.  Keep  your  eyes  open,  and  when 
you  are  tired  of  watching  I'll  relieve  you." 

"  Right !  It's  as  well  to  see  what  the  beggar's  next  move 
is." 

"  I  think  he'll  bolt,"  said  Harkaway. 

"  If  he  does  do  a  bunk,  we  can  nip  round  the  lake  and 
follow." 

"  We  will  too." 

"  Agreed !  replied  Harvey,  who,  concealing  himself  as 
well  as  could,  bestowed  his  attention  upon  the  house. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

THE  FATE  OF  HYSA. 

WHEN  the  monkey  left  Bigamini  alone  he  was  in  a  mis- 
erable condition. 

His  ears,  nose  and  forehead  were  mangled,  his  cheeks  bitten 
and  scratched — he  was  covered  with  blood,  and  had  to  lament 
a  serious  loss  of  hair,  which,  not  being  of  the  type  of  Absalom, 
he  could  ill  spare. 

Lo  Mung  and  Hi  Li  were  summoned  to  his  aid  by  his 
cries. 

They  led  him,  blinded  with  blood,  into  the  house,  seating 
him  in  his  private  room. 

Hysa  came  to  him  with  a  basin  of  water  and  a  fine-linen 
rag,  with  which  she  which  she  washed  his  wounds. 

Schneider  and  Blowhard,  his  partners,  were  lying  on  the 
sweet-scented  matting  which  covered  the  floor. 

Their  faces  wore  a  peaceful  expression,  as  if  they  were 
enjoying  the  sort  of  sleep  which  waits  upon  easy  consciences. 

A  pillow  had  been  placed  under  their  heads,  as  if  to  make 
them  comfortable. 

But  they  would  not  want  any  thing  more  in  this  world. 

Theirs  was  the  eternal  sleep  of  death,  from  which  there  is 
tio  awakening  here. 

The  poison  Bigamini  had  given  them — as  we  described 
previously — had  done  its  fell  work. 

All  was  over  with  the  fraudulent  shipbrokers,  who,  under 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA. 


239 


the  guise  of  business  men,  were  nothing  else  than  the  skilful 
agents  of  daring  pirates. 

They  were  dead,  and  Bigamini  had  taken  from  their  pockets 
all  the  money  they  possessed. 

Hysa  fancied  the  two  men  slumbered,  as  did  Lo  Mung 
and  Hi  Li. 

After  bathing  his  face,  Hysa  applied  some  healing  oint- 
ment to  the  hurts  her  brutal  husband  had  sustained. 

This  checked  the  severe  pain  he  had  been  suffering,  but  it 
did  not  improve  his  temper,  which  was  savage  in  the 
extreme. 

"  Go  and  catch  that  infernal  monkey  ! "  he  exclaimed,  ad- 
dressing the  Chinaman. 

"  No  catchee.     Too  latee,"  said  Lo  Mung. 

"  How  is  that  ?  " 

"  He  ridee  on  swimming  dog's  back.     On  land  now." 

"  Where  is  he  ?  " 

"  Hidee  behind  the  straw  with  Harkaway  and  Harvey," 
said  Lo  Mung. 

"  Are  they  watching  the  house  now  ? " 

"  Me  thinkee  watchee.  Not  able  see  much.  They  not  go 
home.  Mole  mandarin,  Monday  nigger,  young  Jack,  all  go. 
They  get  out  of  hole  in  ground." 

"  Then  I  am  besieged  ! "  cried  Bigamini.  "  They  do  not 
mean  to  let  me  alone.  Mole  and  the  others  have  gone  for 
reinforcements,  no  doubt." 

"  Hangee  all  if  get  taken,  because  stealee  girl  and  shootee," 
remarked  Lo  Mung. 

Bigamini  fixed  his  hard,  steely  eye  upon  the  Mongolian. 

"  Are  you  afraid  of  being  hanged  ? "  he  asked. 

"  Not  vellee  nicee  way  to  die,"  Lo  Mung  answered. 

"  If  you  were  obliged  to  choose  a  mode  of  dying,  which 
would  you  select  ? " 

"So  many  wayees,"  said  Lo  Mung,  shrugging  his  shoulders. 

"Yes,  I  know.  Make  a  choice.  Hanging  from  bar, 
poison,  stabbing,  shooting " 

'  Yes,  that  the  best,"  cried  Lo  Mung. 

'  No  cut  throat — makee  too  muchee  mess.  Shoot  bullet 
through  heart,  or  head." 

'  Oh,  you  are  sure  that  is  your  choice  ?  " 

'  First  chop.     Yes.     Chin  Chin.     Vellee  good." 

'  You  sha'n't  be  disappointed,  hang  me,  if  you  shall,"- 
exclaimed  Bigamini. 


2  40  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"  What  you  be  a  meaner  of  ?  " 

"  Didn't  you  state  that  you  preferred  death  by  shooting  to 
any  other  means  of  shuffling  off  this  mortal  coil  ?  " 

"  That  be  the  trufer — allee  trufer — but  not  die  yet,"  said 
Lo  Mung. 

"  I  don't  know  about  that.  My  fancy  is  that  you  stand  a 
good  chance  of  it." 

"  Why  ?     Me  not  understandee." 

"  I'm  going  to  shoot  you.     Down  you  go,  fool." 

As  he  spoke,  Bigamini,  out  of  pure  viciousness  and  devilry, 
drew  his  pistol  and  fired. 

The  harmless,  inoffensive  Chinaman,  who  had  served  him 
«o  faithfully  as  a  spy,  uttered  a  cry. 

He  dropped  his  head  to  his  breast  and  fell  back. 

Hi  Li  caught  him  in  his  arms,  and  laid  him  gently  on  the 
floor. 

He  was  not  surprised  at  his  master's  violence. 

It  takes  a  great  deal  to  astonish  a  Chinaman,  and  he  is  so 
confirmed  a  fatalist,  that  if  told  he  was  to  die  in  five  minutes, 
he  would  not  take  the  trouble  to  say  a  prayer. 

What  is  to  be  will  be,  is  his  creed. 

Individual  effort  can  do  nothing  to  avert  the  decree  of 
Fate,  in  his  estimation. 

"  I'll  kill  the  lot  of  you,"  cried  Bigamini.  "  You  are  no 
good.  I'm  going  to  leave  here,  and  I  don't  intend  to  take 
any  of  you  with  me.  Now  Harkaway  has  discovered  me, 
the  game  is  played." 

Hi  Li  ran  away. 

A  second  bullet,  however,  brought  him  down. 

He  sank  to  the  floor,  weltering  in  blood,  which  flowed 
from  a  wound  in  his  back.  Hysa  glided  away. 

"  Here  !  Where  are  you  going  to  ?  Come  back  !  "  shouted 
the  murdering  wretch.  "  You  don't  think  I  want  you  with 
me?" 

There  was  no  answer. 

Hysa  was  gone,  but  her  infuriated  husband  went  after 
her. 

He  looked  in  the  kitchen  ;  she  was  not  there ;  he  went 
out  on  the  verandah. 

The  woman,  paralysed  with  fear,  was  stepping  into  one 
of  the  boats. 

"  Come  back  !  "  Bigamini  vociferated,  "  or  I'll  shoot  you. 
I'll  drop  you  in  your  track,  as  I  did  Lo  Mung  and  Hi  Li !  " 


ADVEXTURES  IN  CHIXA.  241 

She  paid  no  heed  to  his  summons,  but  got  into  the  boat, 
«M!  muhfTJ  qfff 

-  Curse  you!"  he  yelled.    -  Won't  you  obey  me?" 

There  was  an  iron  store  on  the  verandah ;  it  was  used  for 
boflmgtfae  kettle  to  make  the  tea  with. 

Seizing  it  with  both  hands,  he  hurled  it  at  the  little  skiff 
in  which  the  woman  now  sat. 

She  had  the  sculls  in  her  hand,  and  was  about  to  pull  to 
the  adjacent  shore. 

His  treatment  of  Lo  Mung  Hi  and  Li  had  stricken  her 


It  was  dear  that  he  had  been  rendered  desperate  since 
his  enemies  had  discovered  his  abode. 

The  store  missed  her,  but  fell  into  the  boat,  in  which  it 
smashed  a  huge  hole. 

Going  through  the  bottom,,  it  sank  into  the  lake. 

The  boat  instantly  filled  with  water. 

Hjsa  could  not  swim  a  single  stroke. 

In  a  few  seconds  the  skiff  heeled  over,  and  she  was  pre- 
apitated  «ulw  the 


Drown,  drown,  you  cat!  "  cried 

The  woman's  clothes  were  very  thin. 

There  WAS  no  &«i|»|juil  whatever  in  them. 

She  sank  like  a  stone,  and  did  not 

Such  was  the  fate  of  the  unhappy 

Bigamini  smiled  grimly. 

-Now  I  am  free,"  he  muttered.     "I  have  got  rid^of 

who  surrounded  me  and  were  a  drag.    I 
again  somewhere  dse.    A  new  fife  shan  be  mi 

The  house   and  the  land  attached  to  the 
now  his  own  pujpeity. 

He  had  bought  it  at  at  first,  but  after  he  improved  it  a  little 
he  sold  it  to  advantage,  contenting  himseM  with  reiiting  it. 

The  last  half  year's  rent  he  had  not  paid. 

He  took  a  match  from  his  pocket. 

"in  burn  the  house,"  he  continued:  "there  are  fora- 
corpses  in  k  ;  that  will  destroy  all  traces  of  them.  I  can  say 
it  was  an  accident,  my  wife  perished  in  the  names  ;  that 
win  do  for  me,  if  I  am  asked  questions  ;  or,  if  the  body 
turns  up,  I  wfll  declare  that  she  jumped  into  the  water  and 
was  drowned.'* 

He  went  to  the  kitchen,  threw  a  can  of  oil  oo  the  floor, 


242  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Immediately  a  huge  flash  of  flame  arose. 

The  wood  caught  fire  and  the  frail  place  was  fully  alight 
in  a  very  short  time. 

Bigamini  had  his  money  secured  about  his  person  in  two 
stout  canvas  bags. 

He  made  his  way  to  the  verandah,  got  into  the  one  re- 
maining boat,  and  sculled  towards  the  opposite  shore. 

It  was  his  purpose  to  studiously  avoid  any  contact  with 
Harkaway  and  Harvey. 

But  his  departure  was  seen. 

His  escape  had  been  noticed. 

Harvey's  sharp  eyes  saw  the  villain  as  he  left  the  house  on 
the  lake. 

He  got  up,  and  ran  behind  the  wall  of  straw,  to  communi- 
cate the  news  to  his  friend. 

Oppressed  with  the  heat,  Harkaway  had  fallen  asleep. 

"  Wake  up,  Jack  !  "  cried  Harvey. 

Harkaway  was  on  his  feet  in  a  moment. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

THE    ESCAPE   AND   THE   PURSUIT. 

"  WHAT'S  up  ? "  asked  Harkaway. 

"  Bigamini  has  left  the  house  in  a  boat,"  replied  Harvey. 

"  Come  on.     We  will  follow  him." 

"  I'm  ready.     Start !  " 

Shoulder  to  shoulder  they  began  to  run  round  the  lake 
to  intercept  Bigamini  at  the  other  side. 

It  was  child's  play  to  them. 

They  were  use  to  hare-and-hounds  in  their  boyish  days, 
and  always,  by  their  active  lives,  kept  themselves  in  training. 

'  I've  a  lot  to  tell  you,"  continued  Harvey. 

'  What  has  the  fiend  been  doing  ?  "  inquired  Jack. 

'He  drowned  a  woman  just  now." 

'  Killing  women,  or  running  away  with  them,  seems  a 
favorite  amusement  of  his." 

'  Healthy  recreation  he  would  call  it." 

'  He's  set  the  house  on  fire,  if  I  may  judge  by  the  smokw 
and  flames  issuing  from  it." 

"  What  a  demon  he  is." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  243 

"  Worse  than  Hunston." 

"  No,"  replied  Harkaway,  "  you  cannot  find  anyone  as 
bad  as  Hunston,  if  you  search  the  whole  world  through. " 

44  They  are  well  matched." 

The  circuit  they  had  to  make  was  a  large  one. 

It  seemed  odds  of  a  thousand  to  one  that  Bigamini  would 
out-distance  them  easily. 

But  an  unforeseen  accident  happened  to  him  before  he 
had  got  far  from  the  house.  They  kept  the  boat  well  in  view. 

A  few  yards  from  the  house,  Bigamini  stopped  sculling  to 
view  the  burning  of  his  residence. 

It  was  like  a  lot  of  tinder,  or  matchwood. 

The  whole  building  was  in  flames  in  an  almost  incredibly 
short  period. 

Dense  volumes  of  smoke  rose  on  the  summer  air. 

Forked  tongues  of  fire  shot  up,  as  if  they  wanted  to  lick 
the  sky. 

Satisfied  that  the  destruction  of  the  premises  would  be  as 
complete  as  he  could  desire,  Bigamini  again  dropped  his 
suspended  sculls  in  the  water. 

Then  arose  a  ghastly  spectacle. 

His  wife  Hysa  came  to  the  surface. 

Her  face  was  convulsed  with  horror. 

In  his  surprise,  Bigamini  dropped  one  of  his  sculls  in  the 
water. 

A  gentle  breeze  fanned  the  bosom  of  the  lake,  and  drifted 
it  away. 

Despite  all  his  efforts,  he  was  unable  to  recover  it 

Hysa  seemed  to  gaze  upon  him  reproachfully,  and  then  the 
body  sank  again. 

44  Confound  the  witch !  "  he  murmured. 

It  was  hard  work,  after  this,  to  paddle  the  skiff  with  one 
scull  to  the  opposite  shore. 

Harkaway  and  Harvey  had  a  great  advantage  over  him. 

It  was  of  no  use  to  try  to  return  to  the  house,  for  that  was 
nearly  reduced  to  ashes  by  this  time. 

He  did  not  notice  his  pursuers,  who  were  running  round 
the  lake. 

With  great  difficulty,  he  managed  to  slowly  get  the  boat 
to  the  shore. 

It  was  fringed  with  a  thick  hedge  of  bamboos. 

Running  the  boat  in,  he  jumped  on  land. 

Harkaway  and  Harvey  had  arrived  there  before  him. 


344  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

They  were  crouching  on  the  ground. 

No  sooner  had  he  stepped  foot  on  the  earth  than  they 
sprang  up. 

Each  had  a  revolver  in  his  hand,  levelled  at  him. 

Bigamini  trembled  in  every  limb. 

This  was  a  reception  that  he  had  not  calculated  upon. 

He  was  armed  with  a  knife  and  a  pistol,  but  he  had  no  op- 
portunity of  using  them. 

"  Hands  up !  "  cried  Jack,  "  or  you  are  a  dead  man." 

Bigamini  threw  up  his  hands. 

He  saw  it  was  useless  to  resist. 

"  Search  him,  Dick,"  continued  Harkaway. 

Harvey  lost  no  time  in  taking  from  the  wretch  his  knife, 
pistol,  and  the  two  bags  of  coin. 

"  We've  got  our  money  back,"  Harvey  remarked. 

"  And  we  have  captured  the  hateful  spy,  the  villain,  the 
scoundrel,  who  has  cropped  up  again  to  be  a  thorn  in  our 
sides,"  replied  Jack. 

Bigamini  sank  to  the  ground,  looking  the  picture  of  misery. 

"  I  give  in,  Mr.  Harkaway,  sir,"  he  whined. 

"  Because  you  can't  help  yourself,"  was  Jack's  answer. 

"  Don't  pile  it  on  and  hit  a  man  when  he  is  down." 

"  You  deserve  no  mercy." 

"  Let  me  go,  sir." 

"  You  will  be  given  into  the  custody  of  the  Hong- Kong 
police.  That  is  your  fate." 

"  I  haven't  done  anything." 

"  Did  you  not  try  to  rob  Mr.  Mole  ?  Haven't  you  ab- 
ducted little  Emily  ?  Didn't  you  put  my  son  and  Monday 
into  your  pitfall,  liar  and  thief  ?  "  Jack  cried. 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  sir,"  snivelled  the  vagabond. 

"  Get  up.    I  hate  to  see  one  man  grovelling  before  another." 

"  You  mustn't  kill  me.     The  law  of  the  land ' 

"  Bah  ! "  interrupted  Jack.  "  You  never  respected  one  law 
in  the  decalogue  !  Don't  talk  to  me  of  law  !  " 

"Is  my  life  safe?" 

"  Yes.  We  do  not  intend  to  harm  you.  The  police  shall 
deal  with  you." 

Bigamini  rose  to  his  feet. 

His  face  assumed  an  insolent  air  at  once. 

So  long  as  he  knew  he  was  safe,  he  did  not  care  one  snap 
of  the  fingers. 

"  Where  are  you  going  to  take  me  ? "  he  inquired. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHIXA.  245 

"  To  Hong-Kong,"  replied  Jack. 

"  What  are  you  about  to  charge  me  with  ?  " 

"  Stealing  my  friend  Harvey's  child,  and  trying  to  kill  my 
son  and  others  in  a  trap." 

**  Can  you  prove  it  ?  " 

~  I  don't  think  there  will  be  any  difficulty  about  that." 

"  Well,  I  shall  accuse  you  of  highway  robbery.  I  no  sooner 
get  on  shore  out  of  my  boat,  than  you  spring  from  the  bamboos 
and  take  my  money  away." 

Jack  burst  out  laughing. 

~  You  always  were  an  impudent  rascal,"  he  said.  "  I  had 
a  good  knowledge  of  yon  in  Naples.  It  was  apity  you  were 
not  drowned,  but  I  suppose  you  were  born  to  be  hanged.'' 

**  A  man  may  as  well  die  one  way  as  another."' 

"March.     We're  got  you,  and  well  keep  you." 

Hgamini  stepped  out.  Harkaway  pointed  a  pistol  at  his 
head. 

Harvey  took  him  by  the  arm,  so  that  he  could  not  make 
any  attempt  to  escape. 

They  proceeded  round  the  lake  to  Mr.  Mole's  plantation. 

When  they  had  gone  half- way  they  came  to  the  main  road 
leading  from  the  country  to  Hong-Kong. 

Accidentally  they  met  Fan  Chi,  whom  they  knew  well  as  one 
«ff  the  head  commissioners  of  police. 

He  was  on  horseback,  and  accompanied  by  two  ordinary 
policemen  on  foot. 

Some  robberies  had  recently  been  committed  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, and  he  had  been  to  make  personal  investigations. 

When  encountered,  he  was  on  his  way  back  to  the  city. 

"Good  day!"  exclaimed  the  commissioner,  in  very  ex- 
cellen t  English.  "  I  trust  you  and  your  party  eat  wefl." 

By  this  y***^  be  meant  to  inquire  if  they  were  in  good 
health. 

"Thank  you,  we  do.     And  you?"  replied  Harkaway. 

"I  am  in  the  enjoyment  of  an  excellent  appetite.  Who 
have  yon  with  you  ?  " 

u  A  prisoner.  It  is  fortunate  that  we  have  met  with  you, 
as  we  can  now  give  him  into  your  custody." 

"What  has  he  done?"   inquired  Fan  Chi. 

Jack  narrated  his  misdeeds,  and  said  something  about  his 
former  history. 

"Ha!  Child-stealing—extorting  money— in  league  with 
pirates.  He  is  a  great  criminal,"  cried  the  commissioner. 


&46  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  IUS  SON'  'S 

"  If  you  will  conduct  him  to  prison,  we  will  appear  against 
him  to-morrow." 

"  By  all  means.  It  shall  be  done.  Ho !  there,  seize 
him." 

The  two  policemen  promptly  took  Bigamini  into  custody. 

His  misfortunes  were  complete  now,  but  the  rascal  did  not 
appear  to  be  cast  down. 

In  fact,  when  he  was  arrested,  his  countenance  actually 
brightened. 

Bigamini  knew  more  about  Chinese  justice  than  either 
Harkaway  or  Harvey  did. 

We  shall  see  what  his  knowledge  amounted  to  presently. 

"  How  is  your  distinguished  friend,  Mandarin  Mole  ? " 
asked  Fan  Chi. 

"  He  has  recovered  from  his  injury,"  replied  Jack. 

"  That  is  good  news  to  hear.  Please  convey  my  regards 
to  his  excellency." 

"  I  will  do  so  with  pleasure." 

"  I  have  the  supreme  honour  to  kiss  your  hand,"  continued 
Fan  Chi. 

"  And  I  to  salute  the  hem  of  your  robe,"  said  Jack. 

After  this  exchange  of  compliments  they  parted. 

Bigamini  was  marched  off  in  custody. 

"You  are  a  great  rogue,"  remarked  Fan  Chi,  addressing 
him. 

"  I  am  a  villain  of  the  deepest  die,"  replied  Bigamini. 

He  was  aware  that  it  would  be  dangerous  to  contradict  the 
commissioner. 

"  You  deserve  to  be  beaten  to  a  jelly,  and  then  hanged  in 
public,"  added  Fan  Chi. 

"  That  fate  would  be  too  good  for  me.  I  ought  to  be  cut 
to  pieces  with  a  knife." 

"  I  see  that  you  are  a  reasonable  man,  in  spite  of  your  vil- 
lainy ;  but  I  shall  at  once  have  you  flogged." 

"  I  shall  be  very  grateful  to  your  high  mightiness  for  your 
extreme  condescension." 

"  The  air  shall  ring  with  your  cries  ;  your  blood  shall  flow, 
and  you  will  wish  that  you  never  were  born." 

"  That  is  a  fitting  punishment  for  my  misdeeds." 

There  was  a  slight  pause. 

Then  the  commissioner  of  police  again  spoke. 

"  I  have  known  some  rogues  make  money,"  he  said.  "  Are 
you  one  of  that  description  ?  " 


ADVEXTURES  IN  CHINA.  2*7 

"  Yes.  I  can  put  my  hand  on  some  cash,"  Bigamini 
answered. 

**  How  much  ?  " 

"  It  would  give  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to  make  your  re- 
spectable highness  a  present ;  but  it  is  for  yon  to  sta'te  what 
sum  is  befitting  your  dignity  and  worth." 

"  I  cannot  accept  a  trifle;  it  would  lower  my  pride.  Yet, 
if  you  offered  me  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  1  would 
take  it." 

"  In  that  case,  would  vou  allow  me  to  visit  some  relatives  ?  " 

"  For  how  long  ?  "  asked  Fan  Chi. 

"  Say  forty-eight  hours,"  rejoined  Bigamini. 

"  I  have  no  objection  to  that.     The  request  b  i 
able.     When  a  man  is  sure  to  be  hanged,  he 
to  put  his  affairs  in  order  and  take  leave  of  his 

"  That  is  my  feeling,  most  upright  and  just" 

"  You  must  nnderake  to  give  yourself  up  at  my  police-court 
at  the  expiration  of  the  time." 

"  Certainly,  protector  of  the  peace,  terror  of  evil-doers,  and 
exterminator  of  criminals." 

"  When  can  you  make  me  this  present  ?  "  continued  Fan 
Chi 

"  At  once,  if  you  wfll  come  to  my  bank  with  me.  I  will 
draw  a  cheque  in  your  favour  for  the  amount" 

"  It  is  welL     I  perceive  that  you  are  a  business  man." 

The  bargain  had  been  struck. 

Chinese  officials  are  very  corrupt,  and  from  the  first  Big- 
amini was  well  aware  that  his  liberation  was  only  a  question 
of  money. 

He  had  got  off  cheaper  than  he  had  expected. 

Being  well  off,  the  sum  was  a  trifling  one  to  him. 

They  continued  their  way  in  silence  to  the  city,  and  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  the  bank. 

There  Bigamini  obtained  the  cash  in  gold,  and  handed  it 
to  the  venal  commissioner. 

It  was  a  scandalous  abuse  of  justice,  but  such  things  are 
constantly  occurring  in  China. 

The  commissioner  shook  him  cordially  by  the  hand. 

"  May  your  chopsticks  never  be  idle,"  he  said. 

"  It  is  my  heartfelt  wish  that  you  may  always  eat  your  rice 
with  relish,"  replied  Bigamini 

"  I  shall  rely  upon  seeing  you  at  my  office  when  forty-eight 
boors  have  expired." 


248  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  Most  certainly.     I  shall  not  fail  to  be  there." 

Fan  Chi  walked  away  with  his  officers. 

He  knew  very  well  that  he  would  never  see  his  late  pris- 
oner again  ;  but  what  did  it  matter  to  him  ? 

Though  he  was  a  police  commissioner,  he  was  so  corrupt 
that  he  did  not  care  a  straw  whether  justice  was  done  or  not- 
All  he  wanted  to  do  was  to  make  money. 

Those  who  could  pay  got  orf  scot-free ;  those  who  could 
not  had  to  suffer. 

Bigamini  was  no  sooner  alone  than  he  drew  another  cheque, 
and  took  all  his  money  out  of  the  bank. 

It  amounted  to  a  very  reputable  sum,  being  sufficient  to 
support  him  for  a  long  time  in  affluence. 

He  was  aware  that  he  could  not  stay  in  Hong-Kong  for 
any  lengthened  period. 

Bending  his  steps  towards  a  restaurant  where  he  intended 
to  dine,  he  grated  his  teeth  together. 

"  You  have  foiled  me  this  time,  Jack  Harkaway,"  he  mut- 
tered ;  "  but  you  have  not  seen  the  last  of  me.  I  live  !  I 
breathe  !  Beware  !  " 

With  these  menacing  words  he  disappeared  within  the  walls 
of  the  restaurant. 

He  had  escaped  from  the  toils. 

Harkaway  thought  his  enemy  was  caged,  and  doomed  to 
death,  but  he  was  mistaken. 

The  spy  and  ally  of  Hunston  was  free  to  do  more  mischief. 

But  what  his  future  movements  were  to  be,  Bigamini  had 
yet  to  decide. 


CHAPTER   XXXVII. 

MR.   MOLE  AND  THE   RED   DRAGON. 

As  Harkaway  and  Harvey  returned  to  Mr.  Mole's  house, 
they  were  in  high  spirits. 

All  their  troubles  were  over.  Little  Emily  and  young  Jack 
were  safe  at  home,  and  they  were  at  liberty  to  depart  for  the 
treasure  island  when  they  liked. 

They  determined  not  to  linger  in  the  Flowery  Land. 

A  little  experience  of  China  goes  a  long  way,  and  although 
it  is  a  country  to  make  money  in — that  is  at  the  treaty  ports 
—Englishmen  are  generally  glad  to  get  out  of  it. 


ADVENTURES  Iff  CffZtfA.  243 

Tney  had  been  looking  after  a  ship  which  they  intended  to 


Houston  was  still  at  large,  bat  they  hoped  to  give  him  the 
slip. 

It  would  be  strange  if  be  found  out  that  they  had  gone  to 
the  Mediterranean  Sea. 

How  was  he  to  gain  the  intelligence  ? 

Reaching  the  house,  they  stopped  in  the  front  garden  to 
gather  some  roses  for  their  wives. 

There  was  an  extensive  lawn,  studded  with  beautiful  stan- 
dard roses. 

In  the  centre  stood  a  block  of  wood,  which  had  been 
carved  into  the  semblance  of  a  dragon. 

It  was  painted  a  bright  vermilion  colour. 

Every  body  alluded  to  it  as  the  Red  Dragon. 

It  was  about  five  feet  in  height. 

The  former  proprietor  of  the  house  considered  k  a  great 


AD  fee  Chinese  delight  in  hideous  designs—  monstrosities 
—  the  grotesque  in  art. 

The  uglier  a  thing  is,  the  more  they  like  and  admire  it. 

All  at  once  Jack  heard  Mr.  Mole's  voice. 

"  This  way,  Monday,"  he  cried. 

"On  the  lawn,  sare  ?  "  asked  Monday. 

**  Yes.  I  have  got  my  weapon,  and  I  mean  to  have  a  fight 
with  that  Red  Dragon." 

"  Him  am  a  deadun,  sir." 

Mr.  Mole  looked  angrily  at  Monday. 

-  Don't  tefl  me  such  a  fie  as  that,"  he  said.  *  You  know 
the  dragon  is  as  much  alive  as  I  am." 

"Think  urn  so,  if  you  like." 

"If  I  don't  kiU  the  loathsome  beast,  be  will  attack  us  in 

uM?  fllffnt-      \Vllcd  IDC  UD. 

HjtkjuMy  paled  Harvey  behind  a  tree,  which  was  a  large 
magnolia. 

Here  they  could  see  what  was  going  on,  without  themselves 


a  lark,"    said  Jack.     "We    shall  have  some 
fan." 

"Mole's  been  lapping,*  Harvey  replied.    "He  k  as  full 


,  being  bereft  of  his  legs,  had  got  into  abath- 
chair,  which  he  had  booght  during  his  flbwk 


250  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

Monday  had  procured  him  a  bottle  of  rum,  part  of  which 
he  drank. 

It  soon  got  into  his  head. 

Young  Jack  was  relating  his  adventures  to  Emily  and 
Hilda  and  his  sweetheart. 

No  one  took  any  notice  of  Mole  and  Monday. 

The  professor  had  been  looking  out  of  the  window. 

He  caught  sight  of  the  old  wooden  Red  Dragon,  and  im- 
agined, in  a  quixotic  manner,  that  it  was  a  live  one. 

It  did  not  occur  to  him  that  dragons  were  fabulous  mon- 
sters. 

Snatching  up  an  old  ship's  cutlass,  he  told  Monday  to 
wheel  him  into  the  garden. 

This  the  black  was  doing  when  Harkaway  and  Harvey  ap- 
peared upon  the  scene. 

The  bath-chair  was  propelled  by  Monday  to  within  a  foot 
or  two  of  the  Red  Dragon. 

"  Now,"  cried  Mole,  "  see  me  slay  this  jabberwock,  or 
perish  in  the  attempt." 

"  You  better  take  care,  sare,"  said  Monday. 

"  Why  should  I  ?  " 

"  The  beast  asleep  now.     Talk  so  loud,  wake  um  up." 

"  Is  he  asleep,  really  ?  I  fancied  I  saw  fire  and  smoke 
coming  out  of  his  mouth." 

"  Me  hear  him  snore,  sare." 

"  All  the  better.  I  will  take  an  unfair  advantage  of  him, 
and  smite  him." 

"  Cut  um  head  off  ?  "  said  Monday. 

"  That  is  precisely  what  I  intend  doing,"  answered  Mole. 
"  If  I  have  no  legs  to  walk  on,  I  can  fight." 

"  Um  very  brave  man." 

"  You  can't  extinguish  my  spirit.  Sitting  in  this  chair,  un- 
able to  stand,  I  defy  the  Chinese  Red  Dragon  !  " 

"  Um  very  awful  kind  of  brute.  You  can't  most  generally 
always  tell  what  they'll  do." 

"  Scratch  and  bite,  eh  ?  Wake  him  up.  I  don't  like  to 
take  an  unfair  advantage  of  him,  after  all." 

"  Me  'fraid  to  come  too  near." 

"  You  coward  ! " 

"  That's  me.     I  is  a  coward,"  replied  Monday. 

"  I  know  you  to  be  one,"  continued  Mole.  "  When  I  was 
a  tutor  I  gave  object  lessons.  You  shall  have  one  in  courage/ 

*'  Trot  um  out." 


ADVENTURES  IJff  Cff/A'A.  2jx 

•The  dragon  is  the  object  People  have  dedared  that  it 
is  a  mythical  beast,  tike  the  unicorn.  But  no.  Behold  it! 
The  creature  looms  in  my  sight!  I  wiU  be  another  Guy  of 
Warwick,  and  slay  him." 

"Shall  I  wake  urn  up,sare?" 

"Yes.  The  knights  of  old  did  not  kffl  hydras  in  somno- 
?ent  condition.^ 

-Stir  ran  cp  with  urn  long  pole?" 

"Give  him  a  kick,  but  mind  he  does  not  bite-you," 

ffi  AH  right.     Lookout!" 

Monday  went  behind  the  Red  Dragon. 

As  he  moved,  the  professor  raised  his  sword. 

It  was  a  formidable-looking  weapon,  and,  though  old, 
••  =  :-.  :-z:-r. 

Monday  shook  the  wooden  thing. 

It  oscfflated  sfightiy. 

Mok  gave  it  a  slashing  blow,  and  cut  the  bead  dean 
ofil 

It  roDedtothe  ground,  disclosing  a  large  hole,  in  which 
something  shone  Eke  goW. 

"Victor!"'  shouted  Mole.  "  I  have  killed  the  pestilential 
dragon.  AH  honour  to  me." 

Harkaway  and  Harvey  stepped  forward. 

"Bravo!77  said  Jack. 

"  Hurrah ! "  cried  Harvey. 

-Was  it  not  splendidly  done?"  asked  Mole,  who  believed 
in  the  reality  of  the  whole  thing. 

-I  never  saw  any  thing  like  it  in  my  life,"  replied  Jack. 

"Am  I  not  a  hero,  Harkaway?" 

m  Indeed  you  are." 

"  Wonh  the  Victoria  Cross." 

-  Half-a-dozen  of  'em— putty  •rrllh  included. w 
"I  can  do  it" 

"You  can.  Henceforth  you  shaH  be  known  as  tfce dragon 
slayer." 

-  Was  he  not  a  fondUUbfe  beast  ?  " 

"AwfuL     But,  I  say,  what  is  this  in  his  inside?" 
Harkaway  had  looked  in  the  hole,  and  seen  the  golden 
gfittcr. 

He  made  an  examination. 

To  his  surprise,  he  found  and  produced  a  score  of  goM 

;  very  heavy  and  extremely  valuable. 


252  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

The  Red  Dragon  had  evidently  been  used  as  a  receptacle 
for  property  of  this  kind. 

It  was  hollow. 

Perhaps  it  had  formerly  been  in  the  possession  of  a 
miser. 

"  Here's  luck ! "  exclaimed  Jack. 

"  By  Jove  !  "  said  Harvey,  "  it  would  take  a  couple  of 
thousand  pounds  to  make  those  things." 

"  All  that." 

Mr.  Mole's  head  sank  back  in  the  bath-chair,  and  his  eyes 
closed. 

He  went  to  sleep. 

Having  as  he  thought  killed  the  ferocious  dragon,  he  was 
not  interested  in  any  thing  further. 

Harkaway  and  Harvey,  with  Monday's  assistance,  con- 
veyed the  newly-found  treasure  into  the  house. 

They '  regarded  this  discovery,  through  Mole's  drunken 
freak,  as  a  happy  omen. 

It  was  an  augury  of  success. 

In  fact,  it  made  them  look  forward  with  hope  to  their  voy- 
age to  the  treasure  island. 

They  would  be  off  in  a  few  days. 

There  was  nothing  to  keep  them  in  China  now. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

MR.    MOLE  GETS   HIS   NEW    LEGS  AND    TAKES    A    DRIVE    WITH 
YOUNG  JACK  AND  MONDAY  TO  THE  TEMPLE  OF  KIANG. 

WHEN  enquiry  was  made  at  the  dock,  it  was  found  that 
the  ship  Harkaway  and  his  friends  had  chartered  would  not 
be  ready  to  sail  for  a  week. 

The  time  threatened  to  hang  heavily  on  their  hands. 

All  were  anxious  to  be  off. 

The  party  that  had  gone  fishing  came  back  much  delighted 
with  their  excursion. 

They  had  enjoyed  plenty  of  sport,  and  caught  some  un- 
commonly fine  fish  peculiar  to  Chinese  waters. 

Though  they  were  of  a  peculiar  shape  they  were  excellent 
to  eat. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  253 

Long  conversations  took  place  between  the  leaders  of  the 
expedition  and  the  Greek. 

Nothing  could  shake  his  confidence  in  the  existence  of  the 
treasure. 

He  inflamed  the  ambition  of  his  hearers,  and  fanned  their 
hopes. 

Young  Jack  grew  tired  of  listening  to  the  talk  of  his  elders, 
and  made  up  his  mind  to  have  what  he  called  a  day's  out- 
ing. 

He  had  heard  that,  at  a  village  about  ten  miles  from  Mr. 
Mole's  plantation  there  was  a  famous  temple. 

It  was  built  in  the  pagoda  fashion  and  very  high,  the 
ground  floor  being  of  some  extent. 

The  village  was  named  Kiang,  and  contained  some  two 
hundred  inhabitants  exclusive  of  the  priests  of  the  temple, 
who  were  no  less  than  thirty  in  number. 

Religious  people  came  from  all  parts  to  visit  the  temple  of 
Kiang. 

It  was  considered  a  particularly  sacred  one. 

Gifts  of  money  and  food  were  made  to  the  priests,  who 
were  a  flourishing  and  prosperous  community. 

Young  Jack  had  never  been  over  a  Chinese  temple,  or 
joss-house,  as  the  natives  call  their  church. 

He  had  a  strong  desire  to  do  so. 

To  drive  over  to  reiang  would  kill  the  time  of  one  day,  at 
all  events. 

Besides,  it  would  be  something  to  say  in  future  years  that 
he  had  been  over  the  joss-house. 

He  got  his  mother  to  pack  him  up  a  lunch-hamper,  in 
which  all  kinds  of  gooc  things  were  stored. 

Then  he  told  Monday  that  he  wanted  him  to  accompany 
him  to  Kiang,  and  proceeded  to  Mr.  Mole's  private  room  to 
ask  for  the  loan  of  his  horse  and  carriage. 

The  door  of  the  room  was  open,  and  young  Jack  took  the 
liberty  of  entering  without  knocking. 

He  saw  the  professor  standing  before  a  table,  on  which 
was  a  looking-glass. 

The  learned  gentleman  was  surveying  himself. 

On  his  wrinkled  but  erudite  face,  there  was  a  look  of 
placid  satisfaction.  Like  the  young  man  of  old,  named 
Narcissus,  who  beheld  his  countenance  in  a  sheet  of  water 
and  fefl  in  love  with  it,  he  seemed  to  be  proud  of  him- 
self. 


254  J* CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

"  What's  the  old  fool  up  to  ? "  said  Jack  to  himself. 

"  I  shall  do ;  yes,"  remarked  Mole.  "  I  look  and  feel 
uncommonly  fit.  Never  was  I  in  better  form." 

Jack  coughed. 

In  a  moment  Mr.  Mole  turned  round. 

"  Oh  !  is  it  you,  my  young  and  intelligent  friend.  Come 
in  !  "  exclaimed  Mole. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  intrude  upon  your  privacy,  sir,"  replied 
Jack. 

"Don't  mention  it.  You  are  always  welcome,  because  you 
are  the  son  of  your  father." 

"  Then  you  don't  altogether  care  for  me  for  myself  ?  " 

"  You  are  slightly  inclined  to  be  mischievous.  There  is 
a  little  of  the  crisp  in  your  composition.  However,  I  will 
forget  that,  as  I  am  in  a  remarkably  good  temper." 

"  What  is  that  owing  to,  sir  ?  Have  you  had  a  consign- 
ment of  the  finest  old  Jamaica  ? " 

"  Rude  remarks  I  object  to." 

"I  apologise,  sir.  It  shall  not  happen  again, '  said  Jack, 
with  mock  contrition. 

"  Take  care  that  it  does  not.  My  high  spirits  arise  from 
the  fact  that  I  have  recovered  my  understanding." 

"  Your  what,  sir  ? " 

"  I  speak  figuratively.  Some  people  have  eyes,  but  they 
see  not.  Am  I  not  erect  ?  See  !  I  can  agitate  the  light 
fantastic,  artificial  toe." 

As  he  spoke,  Mole  lifted  up  one  leg  and  then  the  other. 

With  the  aid  of  his  stick  (  a  trusty  bamboo),  he  walked 
round  the  room — a  little  stiffly,  perhaps,  but  with  perfect 
ease. 

He  had  received  from  the  artificial  limb-maker  in  Hong- 
Kong  a  pair  of  the  very  latest  improved,  flexible,  patent 
cork  legs. 

Putting  them  on,  he  found  that  they  answered  his  purpose, 
and  gave  him  every  satisfaction. 

With  his  stick  to  balance  himself,  he  could  walk  very  well 
indeed. 

It  was  a  triumph  of  modern  science  and  handicraft. 

"  My  legs,  Jack,  my  legs,"  continued  the  professor — "  my 
new  corybantic.  I  feel  like  a  nymph  of  the  ballet.  I  could 
dance  a  pas  seul  or  a  can-can.  Merrily  could  I  tread  the 
measure  of  the  mazy  waltz." 

"  I  most  heartily  congratulate  you,  sir." 


ADVENTURES  Iff  CHINA.  2  55 

'Ah,  it's  a  great  tiling  to  have  your  legs.     What  is  a  man 


"Only  half  a  man,  I  should  think." 

"Right.  Still,  it  is  better  than  being  like  Charles  Lbe  First 
without  your  head." 

"I  have  come  to  ask  a  favour,  sir." 

"Mess  me!  you  generally  take  French  leave  when  you 
want  anything.  How  is  it  you  condescend  to  come  and 
ask  the  old  man?" 

"Respect  for  old  age,  sir.  I  want  you  to  lend  roe  your 
horse  and  trap." 

'Can't  have  it.  I'm  going  to  use  it  myself,"  snapped 
Mole.  "Why  should  I  put  myself  out  of  the  way  fora  snip 
of  a  boy  who  can't  write  a  set  of  Latin  verses  without  making 
a  fabe  quantity  ineicrr  third  fine?" 

"If  you  don*  lend  it  me,  I  shall  take  it.  I  thought  I 
would  ask  your  royal  h^hiirnt  aid  high  mightiness,  as  a 
•alter  of  courtesy. 

"What!  steal  my  trap?" 
'  "Borrow  it." 

"  rn  prosecute  yon--rn  give  you  a  month!  That  trap's 
mine;  I'm  going  out  in  iL" 

"  So  yon  shall,  if  you  fike  to  come  with  me, "  replied  young 
in  a  conciliatory  tone. 

are  you  going?  "  asked  Mole. 

'Not  very  far.     1  have  planned  a  little  excursion.    There 
sai  here  called  Kiang,  and  hi  it  is  a  famous 
temple,  or  joss-house.* 

'Ah!  that  is  a  good  idea.  I  have  long  wanted  to  see  one 
of  these  cfauichcswiepefteyuiJUlBeeptheii  •oudmgods." 

"They  worship  idols,  sir." 

"I  know  it;  they  are  heathens.  I  will  go  with  you.  Count 
me  in.  I  have  a  collection  of  Chinese  curiosities,  and  all 
I  require  to  make  it  complete  is  a  joss." 

"  Be  careful,''  said  young  Jack.  "  Mind  what  you  are 
d::rr  " 

"Why?    What  now?" 

"They  are  very  jealous  of  their  idols.  It  would  not  do  to 
meddle  with  them." 

"Bosh!    If  I  get  a  chance  I  shall  take  one.' 

"They  think  nothing  of 
touchmg  one  of  then-  deitie 

"Are  they  so  sacred?" 


256  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON 'S 

"To  their  benighted  minds  they  are,"  replied  Jack. 

"Well,  I  shall  be  careful  that  no  one  is  looking.  How 
about  the  inner  man — food  and  drink  ?  " 

"  Mother  has  prepared  a  large  hamper." 

"  Go  and  get  the  trap  out  of  the  stable.  I  will  be  with 
you  in  ten  minutes.  These  legs  just  suit  me  to  perfection; 
I  feel  quite  young  again." 

Mr.  Mole  took  up  his  rum  bottle  and  helped  himself  to  a 
dram. 

"  There  is  one  beautiful  thing  about  being  as  I  am,"  he 
added.  "  If  the  drink  does  take  hold  of  me,  it  cannot  get 
into  my  legs.  Ha,  ha!  I  must  have  my  joke." 

"  Old  Ikey  Mole  is  a  merry  old  soul,"  sang  Jack. 

"  Why  shouldn't  I  be  ?     Isn't  it  better  to  laugh  than  cry  ?  " 

"  Far  better.  Get  yourself  ready,  sir,  while  I  go  after  the 
equine.  If  you  don't  look  sharp,  we  shall  not  make  a  start 
to-day." 

Saying  this,  Jack  hastened  to  the  stable. 

With  Monday's  help,  he  soon  put  the  horse  between  the 
shafts. 

It  was  an  animal  of  somewhat  mulish  aspect,  and  given 
to  such  bad  habits  as  shying  and  kicking,  but  it  was  the  only 
one  they  had,  so  they  were  obliged  to  put  up  with  it. 

In  a  tew  minutes  Mr.  Mole  joined  them. 

He  walked  wonderfully  well,  with  the  help  of  a  stick, 
considering  that  the  lower  half  of  him  was  nothing  but  cork. 

The  three  got  into  the  carriage,  which  was  a  native  concern 
made  of  bamboo,  somewhat  after  the  fashion  of  an  English 

The  horse  started,  ambling  off  at  the  rate  of  about  four 
miles  an  hour. 

Neither  whip  nor  voice  could  induce  him  to  go  any  faster. 

There  was  no  doubt  that  they  would  have  got  to  Kiang 
quicker  by  walking. 

If  the  horse  was  bustled  or  worried  overmuch,  he  had  a 
pleasing  way  of  standing  still  in  the  middle  of  the  road. 

This  attitude  it  would  preserve  for  ten- minutes,  as  if  it 
were  waiting  to  have  its  photograph  taken. 

"  I  think,  sir,"  remarked  Jack,  "  that  you  ought  to  enter 
this  steed  of  yours  for  the  Derby  Stakes  at  Epsom." 

"Oh  !  He's  a  very  fine  animal,  if  you  only  know  how  to 
manage  him,"  replied  Mole. 

"  Go  on.    I  never  saw  such  a  screw  in  my  life." 


ADrEXTCRES  IX  CHJXA. 


*S7 


"Urn   only  walk  about  to  save   urn  funeral  expenses," 

C  I  iiT'.'t-I    M  J  ~  -^y 

"  What  do  you  know  of  the  points  of  a  horse,  mv  sable 
friend?"  asked  Mr.  Mole, 

"This  camel  been  in  the  funeral  line,  I  should  think,  for 
certain." 

The  horse  started  again,  and  the  journey  was  performed 
in  due  course. 

A  tea-house  at  the  entrance  to  the  village  of  Kiang  invited 


They  stopped,  secured  the  horse  onder  some  trees,  had  a 
cap  of  tea,  and  went  off  to  view  the  temple. 

This  edifice  was  built  on  rising  ground,  which  made  it 
seem  better  than  it  really  was. 

It  was  approached  on  aD  sides  by  flights  of  stone  steps,  bat 
there  was  only  one  entrance  for  priests  and  public. 

A  walk  up  the  street,  which  was  lined  with  houses  standing 
m  large  gardens,  brought  them  to  the  temple. 

It  being  mid-day,  there  was  nobody  in  the  place  of  worship, 
prayers  being,  as  a  rule,  offered  by  the  Celestials 
ml  eve 


No  visitors  had  as  yet  arrived  from  Hong-Kong,  l 
every  day  generally  brought  some  of  the  curious  or  the  pious. 

At  Ac  bottom  of  the  steps,  facing  die  entrance  door,  was 
a  Chinaman,  who  came  up  to  them. 


"Oh,  you  of  the  most  excellent  English." 
"We  have  nothing  to  give  away"  replk 


nothing  to  give  away,"  replied  Mole,  thinking 
the  fellow  was  a  T 


'Of  your  honognhlecnBiVM-rnsian  lade  pardon." 
"Take  it  and  go,"  cried  Jack. 

"I  am  of  the  family  of  Loo  Chow,"  continued  the  man, 
who  was  not  to  be  put  down  by  a  refusal 

•  We  don't  want  to  make  your  acquaintance.  Loo  Chow." 
"  Me  puttee  myself  in  your  way,  because  father,  grandfather, 

and  now  me,  have  all  been  guides  to  this  temple." 
-Oh,  you're  a  guide,  are  you?"  Mote  exclaimed.     "Why 

didn't  you  say  so  at  first?" 

"  Me  not  havee  time;  you  too  mucbee  ready  talk." 
"You  fellows   beat  about  the  bush   so  and   rigmarole. 

What's  your  figure?" 
-Me  takee  all  over  for  five  shilling,  English.    That  my 

pricee,  high  mightiness." 

-  You  shall  have  it.    I  don't  call  that  dear.    There  is  a 


258  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

lot  of  ground   to   be  got  over  in  that  building,  up  stairs  and 
down,  I  reckon,"  said  Mole. 

Loo  Chow  was  engaged,  and,  putting  himself  by  the 
professor's  side,  began  to  give  him  details  abou.  the  temple 
• — when  it  was  built,  how  many  priests  it  contained,  and  the 
number  of  joss-shrines  to  be  seen. 

"  I  don't  like  the  look  of  that  fellow,"  remarked  Jack ; 
"  his  forehead  is  low,  denoting  cunning  ;  his  chin  narrow, 
showing  deceit." 

"  Me  keep  um  eye  on  him,  sare,"  replied  Monday. 

"  I  wish  Mole  had  not  employed  him.  We  should  have 
got  on  ever  so  much  better  in  our  sight-seeing  without  his 
assistance." 

"  Mist'  Mole  him  want  to  look  big." 

"  That  is  his  great  fault.  I  hope  he  won't  make  a  fool  of 
himself." 

"  How  um  do  that,  sare  ? "  asked  Monday.  "  Can't  play 
much  fool  in  um  church." 

"  He  has  been  making  a  collection  of  curios  since  he  has 
been  in  this  country,  you  know." 

"  Yes.  Me  see  um — all  kinds  of  things,  from  um  big  kite 
to  um  opium-joint,  from  pair  of  slippers  to  carved  ivory  ship. 
Chinaman  Johnny  very  clever  carver." 

"  They  are  splendid  artificers.  It  is  a  pity  that,  as  a  na- 
tion, they  ruin  their  brains  with  opium." 

"  Who  make  the  opium  and  sell  it  them,  Mast'  Jack  ? 
Answer  me  that.  English  make  it  in  India." 

"  Yes,  we  do  the  trade,  I  know,"  Jack  replied.  "  It's  a 
pity,  all  the  same.  But  I  was  going  to  talk  about  Mole. 
He  has  been  trying  lately  to  get  a  joss." 

"  What  am  that  ?  "  Monday  inquired. 

"  It  is  a  wooden  god,"  said  Jack.     "  If  I  remember  rightly, 
you  worshipped  the  same  thing  when  in  Limbi?  " 
"  Before  me  become  a  Christian  which  your  father  teach  me." 

"  The  Chinese  are  like  you  Limbians,  idolaters ;  though 
they  have  a  system  of  ethics,  or  code  of  morality,  whichever 
you  like  to  call  it,  laid  down  by  their  great  philosopher  and 
writer,  named  Confucius." 

"  Suppose  John  Chinaman  think  a  lot  of  um  joss  idol," 
Monday  observed. 

"  Of  course,  he  does ;  and  if  Mole  goes  handling  or  crib- 
bing one  of  them,  there  will  be  no  end  of  a  row/'  replied 
Jack. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  ,59 

"  They  kill  him,  perhaps.1" 

"  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  they  did,  in  the  event  of  fc»  being 
caught.  He'd  have  had  a  better  chance  of  bagging  a  joss 
without  Loo  Chow,  who,  I'll  swear,  would  be  the  first  to  give 
him  away." 

"  That  um  sure  thing,"  Monday  said. 

Mr.  Mole  and  the  guide  had,  by  this  time,  entered  the 
ancient  Temple  of  Kiang. 

Jack  and  Monday  quickly  followed  them. 

A  dim,  religious  light  prevailed. 

Several  huge  and  hideous  idols  were  to  be  seen  in  various 
parts  of  the  large  building. 

On  tables  over  which  lighted  lamps  were  suspended  were 
smaller  ones. 

Spectral-looking  forms  might  be  seen  gliding  about 

These  were  priests  connected  with  the  administration  of 
the  temple. 

Here  and  there,  a  worshipper  or  a  penitent  was  prostrated 
before  one  of  the  larger  idols. 

One  curious  thing  was  noticeable. 

At  the  foot  of  all  the  idols  were  deposited  plates  containing 
rice,  ready  cooked  for  eating,  roast-chickens,  meat,  and  little 
piles  of  money. 

All  these  were  offerings  to  the  wooden  gods,  and,  of 
course,  were,  at  the  expiration  of  each  day,  appropriated  by 
the  priests. 

On  the  second  story,  and  on  the  third  of  the  pagoda  was  a 
smaller  edition  of  what  was  to  be  seen  below. 

All  the  stories  above  this  were  the  priests'  private  apart- 
ments, into  which  the  public  were  not  allowed  to  enter. 

Such  was  the  great  Temple  of  Kiang. 

Jack  looked  in  all  directions  for  Mr.  Mole  and  the  guide. 

They  were  nowhere  to  be  seen. 

There  was  nothing  in  losing  sight  of  one  another,  how- 
ever, as  they  were  sure  to  meet  again. 

They  would  come  together  inside  or  outside  before  long. 

Talking  in  a  low  voice,  as  became  the  character  of  the 
place,  to  Monday,  he  walked  about,  examining  every  thing 
carefully. 

If  there  was  nothing  to  impress  the  mind  of  a  Western 
man,  there  was  much  to  interest  and  amuse. 


260  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON*S 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

THE   DISASTROUS    RESULT   OF  INTERFERING    WITH   A 
CHINESE    JOSS. 

MR.  MOLE  was  conducted — there  is  really  nothing  like 
being  personally  conducted  when  you  are  in  a  strange  coun- 
try and  out  of  your  orbit,  as  it  were — by  Loo  Chow,  all  round 
the  ground  floor  of  the  temple. 

When  he  had  exhausted  all  the  idols,  big  and  little,  he  was 
taken  up  to  the  second  tier. 

To  this  succeeded  the  third,  the  ceiling  of  which  was  rather 
low. 

In  this  section  of  the  pagoda  there  was  no  room  for  idols 
fifteen  and  twenty  feet  high. 

The  wooden  gods  were  carved  on  a  small  scale. 

Anyone  could  take  one  up  in  his  hand  and  put  it  in  his 
pocket. 

At  an  ivory  shrine,  elaborately  carved  and  interlaid  with 
gold,  there  was  a  joss  about  a  foot  in  height. 

It  was  made  of  wood,  like  the  rest,  but  awfully  ugly. 

In  fact  the  uglier  an  idol  was  the  more  the  priests  and  the 
public  thought  of  it. 

The  eyes  of  this  joss  were  made  of  lapis  lazuli.  It  had 
gold  rings  and  bracelets  on  its  fingers  and  arms,  and  anklets 
of  gold  adorned  its  feet. 

It  was  painted  a  chrome  yellow,  and,  taken  altogether,  was 
a  very  striking  specimen  of  the  joss  commodity. 

There  was  no  one  in  the  third  section  of  the  temple  but 
the  guide  and  Mr.  Mole. 

They  were  absolutely  alone. 

No  prying  eyes  could  bear  witness  to  any  of  their  actions, 
whatever  they  might  be. 

"  That  vellee  sacred  jossee,"  exclaimed  Loo  Chow.  "  Only 
head  priest  of  the  temple  touch  that  one." 

*'  I  like  the  look  of  it,"  replied  Mole. 

He  regarded  the  joss  with  a  large  amount  of  satisfaction. 

It  would  be  just  the  very  thing  to  add  to  his  collection. 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  26l 

But  how  was  he  to  obtain  it  ? 
Was  the  guide  to  be  trusted  ? 

That  was  the  perplexing  question  which  he  was  not  able 
to  answer. 

Only  enthusiastic   collectors  can  understand  Mr.  Mole's 
anxiety  to  possess  that  gaudy-looking  joss. 

"  Will  they  sell  that  wooden  curiosity,    my   friend  ? "  he 
asked. 

The  guide  looked  horrified. 

"  No  sellee,"  he  replied.     "  It  is  five  thousand  years  old." 
"  Nonsense  !     You  don't  mean  to  say  so  ! " 
"  Vellee  sacred." 

"  I'll  give  you  a  pound  if  you'll  turn  your  head  the  other 
way  for  a  minute. 

"  Whatee  for  ? "  enquired  Loo  Chow. 
"  I  want  it  to  take  away  with  me." 
The  guide  hesitated  a  moment. 
Then  he  said— 

"  Givee  money.     Me  not  lookee." 

Mole  put  his  hand  in  his  pocket  and  produced  a  sovereign, 
Which  he  presented  to  his  companion. 

Loo  Chow  looked  away  from  him,  and  Mr.  Mole,  leaning 
over  the  table,  seized  the  joss. 
He  held  it  up  admiringly. 

"  By  Jove  !  "  he  muttered,  "  this  is  an  acquisition.     If  not 
Strictly  a  work  of  art,  it  is  quaint  and  unique.     I  am  proud 
to  be  the  possessor  of  it" 
He  placed  it  under  his  coat. 

Having  obtained  the  treasure,  he  was  anxious  to  get  away. 
He  had  seen  all  he  wanted  to  see  of  the  famous  Temple 
of  Kiang. 

It  was  lunchtime. 

Thirst  and  hunger  reminded  him  that  the  lunch  hamper 
was  in  the  carriage  at  the  tea-house. 
A  horrible  suspicion  entered  his  mind. 
Some  cunning  and  daring  thieves  might  have  discovered 
it ;  if  so,  he  would  have  to  put  up  with  the  simple,  and  not 
over  appetising  fare  of  the  tea-house. 

"  Loo  Chow,"  he  exclaimed,  "  we  will  retire." 
There  was  no  answer. 
The  guide  was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 

He  had  vanished  suddenly  and  silently,  like  a  Mahatma  at 
the  sound  of  an  astral  bell. 


262  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOJV'S 

"  Hang  the  fellow !  "  muttered  Mole,  "  I  hope  he  is  not 
going  to  betray  me.  That  would  be  awkward." 

For  a  moment  he  had  a  repentant  idea  of  putting  the  joss 
back  from  where  he  took  it. 

But  the  greed  of  the  collector  was  upon  him. 

He  felt  that  he  must  retain  it  at  all  hazards. 

Grasping  it  tightly  with  one  hand  under  his  silk  coat,  he 
walked  quickly  to  the  staircase  to  go  down. 

When  he  reached  the  doorway,  he  found  his  progress 
barred  by  four  priests. 

Before  he  could  offer  any  resistance,  he  was  seized  by 
both  arms. 

The  silk  coat  was  torn  open,  the  joss  discovered,  and 
rudely  taken  from  him. 

One  priest,  who  was  an  aged  man,  spoke  very  good  English, 
and  addressed  him  in  that  language. 

"  You  have  been  readily  admitted  to  this  temple,  free  of 
charge,  and  without  let  or  hindrance,"  he  said. 

"  Yes — I —    What  is  there  to  pay  ? "  stammered  Mole. 

He  saw  that  he  had  been  found  out. 

His  theft  had  been  discovered  by  the  priests. 

It  was  an  extremely  serious  affair. 

No  doubt  the  rascally  guide  had  betrayed  him,  although 
he  had  taken  his  money. 

At  all  events,  he  was  fairly  in  the  toils. 

There  was  no  escape  now  unless  he  came  to  terms  with 
the  priests  of  the  temple. 

His  experience  of  China  and  the  Chinese  had  told  him 
that  much  could  be  done  with  money. 

He  hoped  to  be  able  to  buy  himself  off. 

In  this  expectation,  however,  he  was  doomed  to  be  dis- 
appointed. 

"  It  is  not  a  question  of  payment,"  replied  the  old  priest. 
"I  have  been  in  your  country,  and  I  know  that  you  are  rich, 
and  that  you  think  your  money  will  allow  you  to  commit  of- 
fences with  impunity." 

"  You  have  got  your  joss  back,"  said  Mole.  "  I  am  a 
collector  of  curiosities." 

"  It  was  not  yours  to  take." 

"  Sell  me  one." 

"  We  do  not  make  a  market  of  our  gods,"  answered  the. 
priest.  "  They  are  too  precious." 

**  I'm  not  particular  about  a  few  pounds." 


ADVENTURES  Iff  CHT.YA.  363 

u  You  have  desecrated  the  shrine;  you  hare  insulted  the 
Temple  of  Kiang  and  its  priests,  therefore  you  must  suffer." 

"Eh— what?  "  Mote  ejaculated. 

"  You  will  have  to  pay  the  penalty  of  your  audacity  and 
rashness ;  in  short,  we  shall  put  yon  to  the  torture," 

Mr.  Mote's  countenance  felL 

"  How  dare  you  talk  to  me  like  that! "  he  demanded,  in  a 
faltering  voice. 

44  We  are  the  masters  here.     You  stole  our  joss.™ 

**  But,  my  dear  sir,  allow  me  to  respectfully  inform  you  that 
the  wooden  monstrosity " 

"  Silence  ! "  interrupted  the  priest. 

"  Beg  pardon !     I  meant  to  say — curiosity." 

**  No  more  words." 

"I  will  speak !     It  is  my  right    The  thing  is  once  more 


No  thanks  to  you." 

"  I  demand  to  be  ted  before  a  magistrate." 

"  We  are  above  the  law,  and  administer  justice  in  our  own 
way.  Come  with  us." 

"I  am  a  British  subject.  If  you  interfere  with  me.  yon 
wfll  regret  it,  for  I  have  rich  and  influential  friends.  Two  of 
them  are  in  your  temple  at  the  present  moment.  They  know 
that  I  am  here.  Beware !  I  am  Mr.  Mote,  Professor  of  Ox- 
ford University,  England,  and  proprietor  of  a  tea-garden  in 
China!" 

"  We  care  not  who  you  are ! " 

"Reflect?     Pause!" 

"  You  have  committed  sacrilege  1  What  would  you  say  if 
I  came  to  one  of  your  churches  in  your  country  and  basely 
stole  a  piece  of  t^ft  communion  platT^  or  tibe  cross  from  the 
altar?" 

« It  is  altogether  different.' 

"XotatalL  Our  religion  is  as  sacred  to  us,  as  yours  to 
you.  Come!" 

Mr.  Mole  made  no  further  resistance. 

He  saw  that  it  was  useless  to  argue  the  point  with  the  priest. 

It  was  a  dilemma  from  which  he  could  not  escape. 

They  ted  him  gently,  but  firmly,  up  the  stairs  to  the  fourth 
story  of  the  pagoda. 

It  was  used  as  a  kind  of  reading  and  lounging  room. 

He  was  placed  in  a  chair,  and  liii  •!••  m  n  tightly] 
to  the  back  of  k. 


264  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

"  Let  him  undergo  the  torture  of  the  iron  boots,"  said  the 
priest. 

The  attendants  went  to  a  cupboard  and  took  out  two  boots 
made  of  iron. 

In  these  they  put  Mr.  Mole's  feet,  or  what  should  have 
been  his  feet. 

Little  did  they  suspect  that  they  were  made  of  cork. 

It  was  their  impression  that  they  were  flesh  and  blood  and 
bone,  like  their  own. 

So  well  were  his  artificial  legs  made,  that  they  looked  truly 
natural. 

The  Chinese  priests  were  deceived. 

The  boots  were  of  a  large  size,  and  the  cork  feet,  which 
had  socks  and  high  shoes  on  them,  easily  went  in. 

"  The  wedges  and  the  hammer,"  the  priest  continued. 

An  attendant  went  a  second  time  to  the  cupboard,  and 
produced  a  heavy  hammer  and  four  iron  wedges. 

He  put  one  of  the  wedges  inside  the  right  boot,  and  began 
to  hit  it  with  the  hammer. 

The  intention  of  the  priest  was  to  crush  the  bones  of  the 
foot  and  lame  him  for  life,  which  would  cause  him  intense 
agony. 

Mr.  Mole  saw  their  design  and  smiled  inwardly,  with  a 
sense  of  satisfaction. 

So  long  as  they  operated  upon  the  lower  part  of  his  body, 
they  could  not  hurt  him. 

It  would  not  do  to  let  them  know  that  he  was  half  made 
of  cork. 

If  they  did  find  that  out,  they  most  likely  would  practise  on 
him  in  some  more  vulnerable  portion  of  his  anatomy. 

It  was  necessary  for  him  to  act  a  part. 

With  this  end  in  view,  as  soon  as  the  attendant  struck  the 
wedges  with  the  hammer,  he  uttered  a  most  unearthly  yell. 

The  next  blow  was  followed  by  a  wild  Arab  howl,  worthy 
of  a  dying  Haden-dowa  of  the  Soudan. 

He  writhed,  he  twisted,  he  contorted  his  features. 

When  the  wedge  had  gone  down  into  the  boot  the  attendant 
did  the  same  thing  with  the  other  foot. 

Mole  continued  to  shout,  scream,  squirm,  and  utter  bad 
language. 

At  last,  he  let  his  head  fall  back,  shut  his  eyes,  and  drew 
his  breath  gently. 

He  has  fainted  under  the  severity  of  the  punishment,"  said 
the  head  priest 


ADVEtfTURES  Mf  CHIA'A.  265 

It  is  enough." 

"What  shall  we  do  with  him,  master?"  asked  the  at- 
tendant. 

"Pot  him  in  a  basket  and  convey  him  under  the  palm-trees 
that  grow  on  the  left  side  of  the  temple :  there  leave  him.  If 
his  friends  find  him,  well  and  good :  If  not,  the  charitable 
may  take  him  to  die  Hong-Kong  Infirmary,  for  he  will  not 
walk  again  for  months.  I  care  not.  The  priests  of  the  tem- 
ple are  above  the  law.  No  one  dare  interfere  with  us  doing 
DOT  duty.  Shall  our  josses  be  stolen  with  impunity  by  foreign 
devils?  No.  All  China  would  support  us.  We  have  taught 
ffae  wretched  Fanqui  a  lesson." 

The  attendant  and  a  priest  procured  a  large  wickerwork 
Basket,  into  which  they  put  Mr.  Mole,  after  removing  the 
•edges  and  the  iron  boots. 

He  pretended  to  be  perfectly  helpless,  and  insensible  to 
•verything  that  was  going  on  around  him. 

The  two  men  took  up  the  basket  and  carried  it  down  the 
stairs,  through  the  ground  floor  of  the  temple,  and  so  on  into 
the  open  space  around,  in  a  portion  of  which  the  palm 
trees  grew. 

Here  they  deposited  the  burden  they  had  been  carrying, 
and  hastened  back  to  the  sacred  pagoda. 

As  they  went  along,  the  attendant  said — 

"  How  the  foreign  devil  did  swear  and  howL" 

"  It  was  music  in  my  ears,"  replied  the  priest. 

**  For  a  long  time  he  will  not  get  over  it." 

tt  If  he  had  died  it  would  have  served  him  right" 

"  Ah !     We  of  the  temple  know  how  to  protect  our  josses." 

Mole  congratulated  himself  heartily  on  his  escape,  but  be 
did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  move  at  present. 

If  he  did,  and  the  priests  from  die  windows  of  the  temple 
saw  him  walk  away  unhurt,  diey  might  seize  him  again  and 
inflict  real  injuries  upon  him. 

For  once  in  his  life  he  blessed  himself  for  having  artificial 
legs. 

If  his  legs  had  been  real,  die  iron  boot  and  wedges  would 
have  injured  him  terribly. 

The  feet  are  fuD  of  little  bones,  the  toes  are  tender,  and 
the  ankle  is  easily  hurt  by  a  knock. 

It  was  a  cruel  mode  of  torture. 

The  professor  resolved  never  to  enter  a  joss-house  agam, 
as  he  had  a  wholesome  dread  of  die  priests. 


266  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SONS 

He  would  consider  his  collection  complete  without  adding 
a  Chinese  god  to  his  curios. 

Much  as  he  wanted  lunch,  he  was  afraid  to  move. 

"  I  must  stay  in  this  basket,"  he  muttered,  "  until  it  is 
dark,  though  my  stomach  pines  for  corn  and  wine — mean 
cold  fowl,  ham,  etc.  Columbus !  it  will  be  a  long  time 
between  drinks,  quite  contrary  to  my  usual  custom,  but  I 
will  make  up  for  it.  It  is  wrong  for  a  man  of  means  to  get 
into  debt  with  his  stomach.  He  should  never  owe  it  any 
thing." 

With  this  comforting  reflection  Mr.  Mole  closed  his  eyes, 
and  having  nothing  better  to  do,  went  to  sleep. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

YOUNG  JACK  AND  MONDAY  ARE    PERPLEXED    AND   ALARMED 
ABOUT  THE  PROFESSOR. 

AFTER  wandering  about  for  some  time  on  the  three  sec- 
tions of  the  pagoda  open  to  the  public,  Jack  and  Monday 
found  that  they  had  seen  enough  of  it. 

It  is  a  show  worth  seeing,"  said  Jack ;  "  but  it  isn't  a 
patch  on  Westminster  Abbey  or  St.  Peter's  at  Rome." 

"  Um  nice  kind  of  temple,"  replied  Monday.  "  Where 
am  Mr.  Mole  got  to,  sare  ? " 

"  That  is  what  is  bothering  me." 

"  Perhaps  him  cop  a  joss,  and  the  jossers  of  the  pagoda 
cop  him.  Yah  !  yah  !  "  laughed  Monday. 

"  I  hope  not.  The  priests  are  dangerous  people  to 
tackle,"  replied  Jack.  "  It  would  be  of  no  use  applying  to 
our  consul." 

"  Why  not,  sare  ?  " 

"  He  dare  not  interfere  with  the  religious  order.  The 
Chinese  are  very  fanatical,  there  would  be  a  riot." 

"  We  must  have  urn  Mole  hunt,  Mast'  Jack." 

"  Where  shall  we  look  for  him  ?  " 

"  Moles  gen'rally  live  underground ;  p'r'aps  put  the  old 
silly  in  a  dungeon." 

"  I  won't  go  home  without  him  ! "  cried  young  Jack.  "  If 
he  has  got  into  trouble,  it  would  be  a  cowardly  shame  to 
leave  him  to  his  fate." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  20; 

"Your  father  not  sail  without  um  old  friend." 

"  I  am  sure  he  would  not,  therefore  we  must  exert  our- 
selves on  the  old  man's  behalf." 

"Me  carry  my  knife,  sare,"  said  the  black,  baring  his 
gums  and  showing  his  white,  gleaming  teeth. 

"  And  I  have  my  revolver.  I  wish  we  could  come  across 
that  guide  chap.  What  was  his  name  ?  " 

"  Loo  Chow,"  answered  Monday,  "  got  um  false  look 
about  um  face,  and  no  mistake." 

They  were  standing  in  the  shadow  of  the  entrance  to  the 
great  Kiang  Temple. 

As  the  black  spoke,  Loo  Chow  passed  by  them. 

He  was  leaving  the  sacred  edifice  in  a  hurried  manner. 

Young  Jack  ran  after  and  caught  him  by  the  arm  before 
he  had  had  time  to  descend  more  than  a  dozen  steps 

"  Here,  I  say,  hold  hard  !  "  cried  Jack. 

Loo  Chow  looked  up  with  an  uneasy  glance. 

It  was  evident  from  his  manner  that  he  wished  himself 
far  away. 

a  Whatee  wantee  ?  "  he  demanded. 

«  My  friend." 

"  Me  not  knowee.     He  payee  me,  I  go — leavee  him." 

"  If  s  an  infernal  lie  to  say  you  don't  know,"  exclaimed 
Jack.  "  Come  on  to  the  bottom  of  the  steps.  Let  me  get 
you  under  the  trees,  and  I'll  knock  some  '  knowee '  into  you, 
you  highly  interesting  specimen  of  a  Celestial  living  in  a 
flowery  land." 

"  Lettee  me  go,"  said  Loo  Chow. 

"  Not  much.    Help  him  along  behind,  Monday,  please." 

Monday  raised  his  foot. 

The  result  was,  that  the  guide  went  down  three  steps  at 
once,  and  would  have  dragged  Jack  with  him,  had  not  the 
latter  let  go  his  hold. 

Loo  Chow  raised  himself. 

In  a  moment,  Monday  was  in  attendance  upon  him. 

Another  vigorous  kick  administered  to  the  guide  while  in 
a  stooping  position  sent  him  flying. 

It  was  a  sight  to  see  Loo  Chow  rolling,  hopping,  jumping, 
bumping  down  the  steps  of  the  pagoda. 

Sometimes  he  would  be  on  his  feet,  at  others  on  his  head, 
and  then  he  would  be  doing  the  trapeze  business  on  noth- 
ing. 

He  had  to  negotiate  sixty  steps  before  he  reached  the 


268  TA  CK  HA  RKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

bottom.  When  he  did  so,  his  body  gave  one  bound  up- 
wards, and  then  he  fell  down  as  flat  as  a  brick. 

Monday  put  his  hands  to  his  sides,  opened  his  capaciour 
mouth,  and  laughed  loudly. 

"  Yum,  yum  !  "  he  cried.  "  That  um  bully  kick,  Mast' 
Jack.  I  sent  him  kiting.  It  was  a  hyster,  as  we  used  to 
say  in  New  York." 

"  I  hope  he  is  not  killed,"  replied  Jack ;  "  because  I  want 
to  get  some  information  out  of  him." 

"  These  Chinamen  pretty  tough,  sare." 

"  Let  us  go  down  and  see  if  we  can  revive  him.  It  is  ten 
to  one  he  knows  what  has  become  ot  Mole,  or  he  would  not 
have  tried  to  bolt." 

"That  um  moral  certainty." 

They  descended  the  steps,  and  drew  the  body  of  Loo 
Chow  under  a  tree. 

He  was  breathing  heavily,  was  quite  senseless,  and  blood 
was  issuing  from  his  mouth  and  nose. 

The  peculiar  way  in  which  he  had  gone  down  stairs  had 
not  agreed  with  him. 

It  was  clear  that  he  was  not  a  heaven-made  acrobat,  born 
for  the  profession. 

"  He  looks  bad,"  remarked  Jack.  "  I  fancy  the  poor 
beggar's  going  to  kick  out.  It's  a  pity  you  rammed  him  so 
hard  with  your  boot." 

"  I'd  got  to  do  it,  Mast'  Jack.  Could  not  resist  it,  if  I 
was  never  to  eat  pie  again's  long's  I  live,"  said  Monday, 
with  a  grin. 

"  I  am  sorry.  If  he  could  speak,  we  might  get  something 
out  of  him  about  Mole." 

"  How  we  going  to  find  the  gentleman  ?  " 

"  That's  a  puzzler.  Let  us  leave  Mr.  Loo  Chow  where 
he  is  for  a  bit,  and  get  farther  into  the  shade.  He  may 
come  to  soon,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

"Don't  you  think  it  time  for  to  eat  um  grub,  Mast' 
Jack  ?  "  enquired  Monday. 

"  By  Jove  !  Yes.  I'd  forgotten  all  about  it  in  the  excite- 
ment of  the  moment,  but  while  we  are  uncertain  as  to  Mr. 
Mole's  fate,  I  could  not  sit  down  with  any  appetite." 

"  This  child  could  struggle  with  a  bit." 

"  For  shame  !  Don't  be  so  selfish.  Think  of  Mole,"  said 
Jack,  in  a  chiding  tone.  "  I'm  going  to  smoke  a  cigarette. 
The  palms  are  nice  and  shady  just  here." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  269 

"  It  no  use  thinking  of  Mole  when  ran  hungry,"  remarked 
Monday  ;  "  take  a  lot  ob  moles  to  fill  this  'creature  up 
Come  and  have  some  lunch.  Mast'  Jack." 

u  I  tell  you  I  shall  not  rill  I  have  found  the  professor." 

*  You  very  fond  of  him  all  at  once." 

"  Hold  your  row.  Here's  a  cigarette  for  you  ;  and  there's 
an  old  basket  under  that  palm  :  sit  down,  smoke  like  a  chim- 
ney, and  make  your  miserable  life  happy." 

"  Me  should  do  that,  but  I  think  our  hamper  up  at  the  tea- 
house." 


It's  all  right,"  said  young  Jack. 

Is  ft!     Yah  *  yah  I"  laughed  Monday. 


Yon  see  pres- 
cafl  u~ 


ently.     Every  Chinaman  Johnny  is  a  born  thief.     I 
daylight  robber.     You'll  find  how  much  you  got  left." 

"  If  it  is  all  gone,  I  can't  help  it." 

"  Nice  kind  of  a  picnic  to  come  out  to,  and  lose  all  the 
grab." 

"Leave  off  snacking  and  snarling  and  nagging ! "  cried 
young  Jack. 

"  I  can't  help  it.     Good  things  going  to  be  stolen • 

"  Sit  down,  and  let  me  think  what  I  ought  to  do  about 
Mole." 

Monday  sat  down  on  the  old  basket,  leant  his  back  against 
the  tree,  and  lighted  his  cigarette. 

His  young  master  walked  moodily  up  and  down. 

He  was  greatly  vexed  to  think  that  Mole  should  have  got 
into  some  trouble. 

How  was  he  to  discover  him  and  extricate  him  from  it  ? 

In  vain  he  racked  his  brains  to  find  out  how  to  act. 

"  Poor  old  Mole  !     I'm  afraid  he  has  gone  up  this  time," 
he  observed. 

"  Climbed  the  golden  stairs — ascended  urn  Jacob's  ladder," 
repled  Monday. 

"  Hold  your  noise,  or  IT! " 

"  No.  you  won't,  Mast'  Jack.     Never  quarrel  with  old  Moo- 
day.     Ugh  !  what's  this  ?  " 

His  face  assumed  an  expression  of  alarm. 

"  Is  a  mosquito  biting  you  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"Tain't  no  skeeter,  sane." 

"What  then?" 

"There's  a  kind  of  Mumbo  Jumbo,  or  um  Chinese  joss 
about." 

"Don't  act  the  fooli" 


270  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SCATS 

"  I  tell  you,  Mast'  Jack,  there  um  something  alive  in  this 
basket  I'm  sitting  on." 

"  Bosh  !  how  can  there  be  ? " 

"  You  look — you  listen.  Something  shove  up — something 
talk." 

Jack  did  listen  attentively. 

He  heard  a  voice  exclaim — 

"  Let  me  out." 

Mr.  Mole  had  been  roused  from  his  slumber. 

Badly  scared,  Monday  sprang  up. 

The  basket  opened,  and  the  professor  was  revealed. 

"  You,  sir — in  a  basket  !  "  cried  Jack.  "  What  does  this 
mean  ?  " 

"  Oh,  golly  !  "  exclaimed  Monday,  "  it  am  the  old  man." 

"  Thank  heaven  ! "  replied  Mole.  "  Help  me  out.  This 
is  better  luck  than  I  expected." 

"  How  did  you  get  into  the  basket  ? " 

"Thereby  hangs  a  tale.     I  will  unfold  it." 

Young  Jack  and  Monday  assisted  him  out  of  the  basket, 
and  when  he  was  on  his  pins,  he  related  his  adventures. 

They  could  not  help  laughing  heartily. 

It  was  the  most  comical  adventure  he  had  met  with  for  a 
long  time,  although  Mole  was  always  doing  something 
funny. 

The  guide  had  not  recovered  consciousness. 

No  one  was  sorry  for  him,  because  they  all  felt  sure  that 
he  had  betrayed  Mole  to  the  priests. 

"  Come  on,  boys  !  "  said  Mole ;  "  we  will  go  to  lunch.  I'm 
not  hurt." 

'  Wooden  legs  are  a  great  institution,  sir,"  replied  Jack. 

'  You  bet  !     I  have  found  them  so." 

'  Do  you  want  any  more  wooden  gods  ?  " 

'  I  have  done  with  josses.  Let  us  be  moving.  These 
pr  ests  might  get  hold  of  me  again,  and  then " 

He  broke  off  abruptly. 

A  slight  shudder  ran  through  him. 

The  three  lost  no  time  in  walking  back  to  the  tea-house. 

Fortunately  their  lunch-hamper  had  not  been  touched,  and 
they  enjoyed  themselves  immensely. 

In  the  cool  of  the  evening  they  drove  back  to  the  planta- 
tion, which  they  reached  in  safety. 

Only  a  few  days  now  had  to  elapse  before  they  started  for 
the  treasure  island. 


AD  i  ENTURES  IN  CHINA. 


CHAPTER  XLL 

THE   WITNESS   OF  GUILT. 

MEANWHILE  matters  had  gone  on  rather  seriously  on  board 
the  pirate  ship,  "  Flowery  Land." 

Let  us  return  for  a  moment  to  the  hours  succeeding  the 
untimely  end  of  the  wretched  man,  Robert  Emmerson. 

Just  as  daylight  dawned,  the  watch  was  about  to  be 
changed,  when  an  alarming  discovery  was  made. 

One  of  the  men  had  disappeared. 

This  was  Spirillo. 

The  other  man  was  discovered  lying  upon  his  back  on 
deck  insensble. 

This  was  one  Von  Koppenhaagen,  the  pirate  who  attempted 
to  prevent  Jack  and  his  friends  from  escaping  from  the  ship  on 
the  night  of  Emmerson's  murder. 

"  Hold  !  "  shouted  the  mate  of  the  watch,  "  there  has  been 
some  traitor's  play  here.  Bring  some  water,  and  send  for  a 
doctor." 

One  ran  for  water  and  soon  brought  it,  and  they  did  their 
best  to  revive  the  unlucky  Dutchman. 

"  Why  doesn't  the  American  doctor  come,"  said  the  mate, 
impatiently. 

The  sailor  who  had  been  sent  in  search  of  the  doctor,  came 
back  looking  considerably  upset. 

"  The  doctor  !  "  exclaimed  the  mate,  impatiently.  "  Where 
is  he  ?  " 

«  Gone." 

**  Go  and  look  after  him,"  said  the  mate. 

"  I  have  looked  after  him  everywhere,  but  he  is  not  to  be 
found." 

"Bah  !"  ejaculated  the  mate,  hastily,  "bring  him  here  at 
once  —  do  you  hear  ?  " 

*'  I  think  he  must  have  left  the  ship—  the  two  boys  are 
gone,  too." 

The  mate  looked  up. 

It  caugh  this  attention  now,  for  the  matter  began  to  look 
serious. 


272  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

«  The  boys,  too  ?  " 

«  Yes." 

"  That's  strange." 

Von  Koppenhaagen  groaned. 

Then  he  opened  his  eyes. 

"  Der  tuyvel !,  "  he  said.  "  Spirillo.  Such  a  smacks  to  my 
eye,  yer  tuyvel !  " 

"  Spirillo  ! "  said  the  mate,  eagerly  ;  "  but  how  did  you  get 
hurt  like  this  ?  " 

"  Der  toctor,"  answered  the  Dutchman.  "  Dat  tam  tuyvel, 
der  Yankee  doctor." 

"  What,  the  old  American  ? "  said  the  mate. 

"  Yah.  I  stop  him  as  he  was  getting  down  into  the  boat, 
and  he  gave  me  der  tam  smack  to  der  eye,  and  down  I 
drops." 

An  exclamation  burst  from  the  mate. 

"  He's  escaped,  then  !     Confound  him  !  " 

"  Zo  zay  I,"  said  Von  Koppenhaagen,  "  and  der  boys  also  ; 
confounts  der  boys  !  " 

"  Stop,  stop,"  cried  the  mate,  "  surely  the  boys " 

"  Have  escape,  too — yah  wohl,  that  is  zo." 

They  looked  through  their  glasses  in  every  direction . 

And  looked  in  vain. 

The  little  boat  was  long  since  out  of  sight. 

"  Devil  take  them  !  "  cried  the  mate.  "  I'd  sooner  have 
knocked  them  on  the  head  myself  than  have  had  them  get 
off  in  this  way." 

"  That's  just  what  I  proposed,"  said  a  voice  at  his  elbow, 
"  only  you  all  opposed  it  then  ;  now  it  is  too  late,  and  their 
escape  puts  us  in  great  danger." 

The  mate  turned  round,  and  found  the  speaker  was  Hun- 
ston. 

The  man  with  the  iron  arm. 

"  I  would  have  knocked  them  on  the  head,"  continued  Hun- 
ston,  viciously.  "  But  like  a  pack  of  obstinate  fools  you  op- 
posed me." 

"  It  was  no  fault  of  mine,"  said  the  mate. 

"  You're  amongst  the  rest." 

"  It  is  false." 

"  I  say  it  is  true." 

One  of  the  crew  came  running  up  with  a  scared  look  and 
crying  out — 

"  Emmerson  is  dead  !     Emmerson  is  murdered  1 " 


ADVENTURES  IX  CffUTA.  273 

"Emmerson !  "  i  11  IIIBM<|  fl^g v**^f  mate. 

"  Yes,  Robert  Fan*  i  \trnt.  He  lies  dead,  murdered  m  his 
cabin  below." 

Honston  aught  have  been  observed  to  change  colour  just 
then  had  they  not  been  far  too  much  engaged  to  notice  it. 

u  \\~ho  can  have  done  this  dreadful  deed?"  said  the  mate. 
u  Is  there  treason  among  us  ?  " 

The  very  mcnliiM  of  the  word  seemed  to  inspire  alarm  in 


The  pirates  looked  from  one  to  the  otter  and  began  to 
iunn  or  ominously — 
"Of  all  oar  new  hands,"  said  the  mate,  "  this  was  the  best 


"  You're  not  very  poEte,"  said  Toro,  advancing  his  hnge 
body   into  the  crowd  gathered  about  Von  Koppenhaagen, 
who,  by  the  way,  appeared  stiO  to  be  m  a  state  of  semMnsen- 
„:/. 
ItisAetratfi,'1  retained  the  mate,  "  and  that's  more  in 


A  fierce  oath  bast  from  the  hot-blooded  Italian,  and  he  laid 
his  hand  on  his  knife. 

Now  Houston  by  this  time  had  somewhat  recovered  his 


He  gave  Toro  a  warning  sign,  and  then  be  said,  as  though 
at  sodden  thought  liad  occurred  to  him — 

"The  American  doctor  is  gone— the  two  boys  are  yawl 
why,  of  course,  it  is  dear  enough  who  has  done  it." 

"Who?" 

"  Who  but  the  doctor!  " 

**  Not  the  teeter,"  exclaimed  Von  Koppenhaagen,  suddenly 
gaining  strength,  "  not  the  toctor." 

M0!o  km  that  ?  -  said  Hunston. 

"You!"  returned  the  DalihmM,  ailh  il»»;i  nhr  •r«rr, 
•you  do— no  one  better." 

•II-  fahered  the  guilty  Honston;  "I!" 

«  Yes— you— for  you  did  it." 

-ABe!-  ejacwfatedH—stof^-a  foul  Be! 

-It  fa  true,  and  you^know  it— I  know 

rWC£  .uJKflMfl^W  4HMBV* 

Hunston  tottered  back,  and  fell  against  Toro. 


-Of  course  he  fa,"  added  the  ItaKan.     "Why, 
B  next  me  hit 

18 


274  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOJVS. 

"  You'll  back  him  up,"  retorted  Von  Koppenhaagen ;  "  you 
will,  of  course,  for  you  vas  his  aggomplice." 

Toromade  a  rush  at  the  Dutchman,  knife  in  hand,  and  had 
he  got  at  him,  he  would  probably  have  got  this  unpleasant 
witness  out  of  the  way  with  a  single  blow. 

But  the  pirates  would  not  permit  this. 

They  closed  round  Toro  and  hustled  him  back. 

"  Keep  off,  or  I  will  not  answer  for  your  lives,"  said  the 
mate,  "  and  let's  hear  Von  Koppenhaagen  out." 

"  He  raves,"  said  Hunston ;  "  he  is  deranged." 

"  Not  me,"  said  the  Dutchman,  desperately  ;  "and  if  you 
can  find  that  one-armed  man's  knife,  you  will  find  der  blood 
fresh  upon  it — Emmerson's  blood." 

"  Seize  him  !  " 

The  mate  had  hardly  uttered  the  word,  when  a  dozen  horny 
hands  grappled  with  Hunston,  and  ransacked  his  pockets  for 
the  knife.  But  it  was  not  about  him. 

"  He  has  not  been  so  imprudent  as  to  keep  the  knife  about 
him,"  said  Von  Koppenhaagen.  "  But  look  at  his  iron  arm." 

Hunston  fought  like  a  lion  to  oppose  this. 

"  Lend  me  a  hand,  Toro,"  he  cried,  "  to  keep  these  devils 
off." 

Toro  fell  to  it  with  a  will,  and  hurling  his  huge  carcase 
nmongst  them,  bore  down  two  or  three  of  the  pirates  by  sheer 
weight. 

But  this  was  only  a  short-lived  triumph. 

One  of  the  men  who  was  down  seized  the  Italian  giant  by 
the  legs,  and  so  hampered  his  movements  that  in  a  moment 
they  had  him  toppled  over  and  pinned  to  the  deck. 

Hunston  was  likewise  soon  secured,  and  his  sleeve  dragged 
tip,  revealing  the  mechanical  arm,  the  ingenious  workmanship 
of  the  murdered  Robert  Emmerson. 

And  then  they  saw  the  legend  upon  the  steel  arm  was 
smeared  with  blood,  whose  freshness  was  beyond  all  question. 

"  See  !  see  !  "  cried  Von  Koppenhaagen ;  "  that  is  Emmer- 
son's blood  there  now  I  " 

Thus  brought  home  to  him,  Hunston  stammered,  and  fal- 
tered out  some  meaningless  words. 

But  this  was  only  confirmatory  of  his  guilt, 

"  Tie  him  up  !  "  said  the  mate. 

This  was  done. 

Hand  and  foot  he  was  bound,  and  in  such  a  way  that  he 
was  powerless. 


ADVENTURES  fN  CHINA. 


*7S 


Toto  fought  desperately— but  all  in  vain. 

He  was  tied  up  likewise  by  the  pirates. 

u  And  now,"  said  the  mate,  "  bring  them  before  the  cap- 
tain, and  he  shall  fix  their  punishment  for  acting  without 
orders." 


CHAPTER  XLIL 

THE  STEEL  ARM  TELLS  ITS  TALE. 

WITH  no  gentle  hands,  the  pan*  of  ruffians  were  brought  up 
before  then-  fellow-scoundrel  and  leader,  the  Chinese  captain. 

The  latter  was  a  big  burly  fellow,  and  for  a  Chinese,  really 
a  very  superior  man. 

One  fit  to  command. 

His  superiority  to  his  fellows  was  shown  by  the  way  hi 
which  he  kept  his  men  in  a  perfect  state  of  discipline. 

The  whole  crew  looked  up  to  him,  and  to  them,  his  lightest 
word  was  law, 

He  was  a  man  who  had  travelled  about  a  good  deal,  and 
spoke  several  languages,  our  own  among  the  number,  with 
considerable  fluency. 

"  What  have  they  done  ?  "  asked  the  Chinese  captain. 

"  Nothing,"  said  Hunston,  "  only  made  ourselves  hated  by 
the  crew,  for  seeking  your  interest  and  theirs  as  well  as  our 

n 
Own. 

The  captain  turned  to  their  accusers. 
"  Speak,"  he  sai d.  u  What  have  you  to  charge  them  with  ?  " 
"Murder." 

a  It  is  false !  "  began  the  furious  Italian. 
But  they  soon  stopped  Toro's  mouth. 
«  Who  have  they  murdered  ?  "  demanded  the  captain. 
"Our  comrade,  Robert  Emmerson." 
"Emmerson!"   iterated   the   captain.      "Is    Emmerson 
dead?" 
"Yes." 

"  And  they  have  murdered  him  ?  " 
"Yes." 
"  A.  lie!  " 

**  Silence ! "  said  the  captain.     "  Who  accuses  them?  w 
«*I  do,  gaptain,"  said  Von  Koppenhaagen,  stepping  foi* 


276  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

ward,  "  and  I  can  proof  my  vords,  for  I  have  seen  Hunzton 
knog  him  down  mit  my  own  eyes." 

A  murmur  ran  through  the  crew. 

A  wave  of  the  captain's  hand  quieted  them. 

"  How  came  Von  Koppenhaagen  to  witness  this  murder  ?  " 

"  It  was  my  watch,"  said  the  Dutchman.  "  Spirillo  was 
mit  me,  and  he  tried  to  bersuade  me  to  leab  der  shib,  to  get 
away  vrom  der  '  Flowery  Land  '  mit  him  and  somevon  else, 
for  he  haf  got  tired  of  it,  he  says.  But  I  says — 

"  '  No ;  I  vill  go  ven  I  vants  to,  not  before." 

"  While  ve  vas  talking,  up  comes  der  boy,  Jack  Hargavay, 
and  dey  begins  to  speak  togeder. 

"  Spirillo  likes  der  boy  because  der  boy  nurse  him  when  he 
fall  from  der  shrouds.  So  I  lets  'em  talk,  and  presently  up 
comes  dem  two. 

"  Dey  bounce  on  der  young  Hargavay  and  dry  to  gill  him, 
but  he  rons  avay,  and  he  gets  down  into  der  cabin  vere  Em- 
merson  vas  asleep ;  so  I  went  back  to  get  help." 

"Help  for  what  ?  " 

"  Help  to  save  der  boy,"  said  Von  Koppenhaagen,  'he  is 
vorth  a  goodly  ranzome." 

"  Right." 

"  Besides  vich,  it  is  der  gaptain's  orders." 

"  True." 

"  Veil,  before  I  can  get  far,  I  hears  a  great  noise,  and  back 
I  go  to  der  cabin,  and  jost  as  I  gets  on  der  ladder,  I  see  Em- 
merson  defending  der  boy. 

"  Dey  dries  all  dey  can  to  get  him,  but  Emmerson  is  too 
much  for  dem,  and  den  Hunzton  draws  his  knife  and  stigs 
Emmerson." 

"  A  lie  ! "  shouted  Hunston,  fiercely. 

"  I  swear  it." 

"  It  is  a  base  lie  !  "  ejaculated  Toro,  "  and  the  murderer  is 
no  doubt  Von  Koppenhaagen,  who  has  hatched  all  this  tale 
to  shift  the  guilt  on  to  innocent  shoulders." 

"  Silence  !     Go  on  with  your  story." 

"  But  den  dey  comes  op  der  cabin  stairs  and  sneags  avay, 
vile  I  hides  ;  an'  den  I  hear  a  noise  ovare  dere. 

"  I  greebs  up  jost  in  time  to  see  Spirillo  get  over  der  ship's 
side,  and  den  young  Hargaway,  and  den  der  toctor — tarn  him  I 
I  stobs  der  toctor,  and  he  gibs  me  a  splodge  in  der  eye  d;it 
sents  me  down  all  of  a  lomps  on  der  deck  vast  azleep,  an' — 
an' — an'  dat's  all." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  ,77 

A  short  silence  followed. 

"  And  do  you  believe  in  this  ? "  demanded  Hunston,  haugh- 
tily. 

"  Bah !  "  said  the  Italian,  contemptuously. 

The  Chinese  captain  frowned  at  the  speaker,  and  then 
said — 

"  What  have  you  to  say  against  the  charge  ? " 

"  Why,  only  this,"  returned  Hunston ;  "  Robert  Em- 
merson  was  my  friend.  It  was  he  who  did  the  greatest  serv- 
ice that  living  man  ever  did  by  replacing  my  cruel  loss." 

And  as  he  spoke,  he  raised  the  mechanical  arm. 

"  What  other  proof  have  you  of  their  guilt  ?  " 

"  You  vant  more  proof  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Den,"  said  the  Dutchman,  quite  as  unmoved  as  ever, "  if 
you  vant  der  broof,  just  look  at  his  zteel  arm  !  " 

"Hah!" 

Hunston  could  not  keep  back  an  exclamation  of  alarm. 

In  an  instant  he  was  seized  by  a  dozen  eager  hands,  and 
the  mechanical  arm  was  laid  bare.  They  all  strode  forward 
to  catch  a  glimpse  of  it. 

Then  a  murmur  of  horror  ran  through  the  throng. 

The  legend  on  the  steel  arm  was  smeared  with  blood. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

THE  SENTENCE  ON  HUNSTON  AND  TORO. 

"  WHAT  do  you  say,  men  ?  " 

It  was  the  pirate  captain  who  spoke. 

The  evidence  was  overwhelming. 

The  two  ruffians  were  dumfounded.  and  their  own  con- 
fusion at  this  critical  moment  confessed  their  guilt. 

"Guilty!" 

They  would  have  protested,  but  the  captain  would  not 
hear  them. 

"Silence!"  he  said,  in  solemn  and  impressive  tones. 
*  That  condemns  you !  The  steel  arm  avenges  its  inven- 
tor. The  legend  on  it  dooms  you  to  death." 

They  had  not  a  word  to  say  for  themselves  now. 

Hunston  cowered  with  fear. 

A  superstitious  dread  settled  upon  him. 


278  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SON'S 

And  why  ? 

Can  you  not  guess  ? 

He  remembered  Robert  Emmerson's  words  concerning 
the  legend  on  the  mechanical  arm. 

Already  had  the  prediction  of  the  luckless  Protean  Bob 
been  verified  in  a  certain  manner. 

The  steel  arm  had  been  raised  against  a  friend,  and  already 
had  it  betrayed  the  guilt  of  the  wearer. 

Hunston  remembered  all  the  peculiarities  of  the  unfortu- 
nate Emmerson,  and  shuddered  when  he  thought  of  the  so- 
lemnity with  which  he — Emmerson — had  predicted  what  had 
happened. 

"  What  shall  we  do  with  them  ?  "  demanded  the  captain. 

"  Hang  them  !  "  shouted  the  pirates. 

"  Get  ready  the  rope." 

By  the  alacrity  displayed  in  making  the  ghastly  prepara- 
tions, it  was  clear  that  the  verdict  was  in  accordance  with 
their  wishes. 

Toro  was  the  boldest  of  the  two  desperadoes,  but  his  heart 
quailed  at  what  he  now  beheld. 

"  Is  it  possible,"  he  said  to  himself,  "  that  I  have  passed 
through  all  the  many  varied  scenes  and  episodes  of  my  life 
to  come  to  this  ?  To  be  hanged  by  a  set  of  Chinese  pirates. 
No,  no  ;  it  can  not  be." 

He  would  not  accept  his  fate  without  an  effort  on  his  own 
behalf. 

"  You  will  do  what  you  like,  comrades,"  he  said ;  "  but 
might  is  not  always  right — nor  is  it  now.  You  have  no  more 
right  to  dispose  of  our  lives  than  we  have  to  dispose  of 
yours.  When  we  joined  you,  it  was  to  bring  you  certain  in- 
formation which  was  to  be  useful  to  you,  and  the  profit  to 
accrue  from  it  was  to  be  divided  equally  between  us.  And 
now  that  you  have  all  we  can  bring,  it  is  an  easy  way  of  get- 
ting out  of  your  part  of  the  bargain  to  assassinate  us  under  a 
pretext." 

The  Chinese  captain  appeared  to  be  in  some  measure 
struck  by  this  bold  address. 

"  You  have  some  right  to  speak  thus,  Toro,"  he  said, 
«  but " 

"  Right !  "  echoed  the  Italian,  bitterly,  following  up  with 
eagerness  the  faintest  advantage  ;  "  who  would  venture  to 
deny  the  right  ?  " 

"  You  have  heard  your  sentence,"  said  the  captain. 


ADVENTURES  /AT  CHINA, 


-79 


-Yes." 

-  And  yon?"  he  added,  taming  to  H 
"I  have," 

"  Then  what  have  you  to  urge  in  mitigation  of  your  doom  ?" 

"This,"  retorted  Hunston,  with  a  brief  flash  of  boldness: 
"you  have  no  right  to  take  our  fires.  We  came  here — 
trusted  ourselves  in  perfect  good  faith  in  jour  hands,  and  had 
yon  not  wanted  our  services  or  our  information,  you  should 
have  told  us  so,  or  let  us  know  that  yon  wanted  to  part  com- 
pany with  us." 

"-  Supposing  we  spared  your  fives,  what  would  you  pro- 
pose?" 

"*  We  have  no  suggestion  to  make,"  replied  Toro,  obsti- 
nately. "  We  are  innocent  of  all  crime,  and  can  have  noth- 
ing to  say.7" 

"  Then  I  wffl  speak  for  you,"  said  the  captain. 

Then  turning  to  the  crew,  he  went  on  to  say — 

"These  two  men  have  merited  death  at  our  hands.  I  ob- 
ject to  these  strong  measures  among  ourselves,  and  propose 
that  we  should  set  them  adrift  in  a  boat,  and  let  them  shift 
for  themselves.  What  do  you  say?" 

But  few  dissentient  voices  were  heard,  when  die  captain 
spoke. 

"  Your  win  is  law,  captain,1*  said  the  men. 

"Lower  the  boat,"  called  the  captain ;  " and  let  us  have 
done  with  this  job  at  once." 

The  command  was  speedily  obeyed,  and  into  die  boat  were 
pitched  a  few  days"  rough  rations —  chiefly  biscuit  and  water. 

*  Now  begone,"  said  die  captain,  pointing  to  die  boat. 
The  prisoners  sullenly  shook  themselves  together,   and 


Then  Hnnston  paused. 

His  first  sensation,  on  hearing  his  punishment  imligalrd 
dins,  had  been  one  of  unfeigned  relief. 

Mow  he  began  to  feel  uneasy. 

An  inward  warning  was  at  work,  teffing  him  that  he  was 
being  conducted  to  a  living  death. 

Death  by  slow  torture. 

Death  in  its  most  horrible  form  of  att. 

Starvation. 

"I  refuse  to  go,"  he  said,  

"Then  you  have  but  a  few  moments  to  me,  netnraed 
the  captain. 


280  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOWS 

Then  turning  to  the  men,  he  made  them  a  sign  to  proceed 
with  the  rope. 

"  What  do  you  say  ? "  said  the  captain  to  Toro  ;  "  do  you 
go,  or  " — and  here  he  gave  a  significant  glance  at  the  prepara- 
tions at  the  rope — "  stay  !  " 

Toro  grunted. 

"  It's  no  choice,  captain,"  he  said.     "  I  will  go." 

"  Over  with  you  then." 

With  many  a  muttered  imprecation,  the  huge  Italian  got 
over  the  ship's  side,  and  was  lowered  into  the  boat. 

"  Now,  men,  place  the  rope  round  the  other's  neck,  and 
off  with  him,"  said  the  captain. 

They  began  to  drag  Hunston  away,  but  the  latter's  fears 
got  the  better  of  his  sullenness  now,  and  he  cried  out  for 
mercy. 

"  Since  you  give  me  the  choice,"  he  said,  "  I'll  go  with 
Toro." 

The  captain  frowned. 

"  I  gave  you  no  choice,  I  only  gave  orders." 

"Then  I  obey,"  said  Hunston,  eagerly. 

"  You  must  beg  it  as  a  favour  now,  upon  your  knees," 
said  the  captain,  sternly. 

"  I  do  !  I  do  !  "  said  Hunston,  on  his  knees,  grovelling 
and  abasing  himself. 

"  Lower  yet — in  the  dirt — prostrate  yourself,  or  you  shall 
hang  for  the  gulls  to  peck  at." 

Hunston  obeyed. 

His  fears  took  every  spark  of  manhood  from  him,  if  ever 
he  had  been  possessed  of  any. 

"  Mercy  !  mercy !  "  he  cried,  "  any  thing  better  than 
that." 

The  pirate  captain  spurned  him  with  his  foot,  and  turned 
away  with  a  look  of  unutterable  disgust. 

And  then  they  dragged  the  wretched  Hunston  up,  and 
dropped  him  into  the  raging  sea. 

"  Now  swim  away,"  cried  the  mate,  leaning  over  ;  "for  if 
you  are  within  range  by  the  time  we  have  counted  a  hundred, 
we  shall  fire  into  you." 

By  this  time  the  boat  was  a  considerable  distance  from 
the  ship. 

Hunston,  however,  was  a  powerful  swimmer,  and  gradually 
neared  it. 

But  he   had  not    calculated   on   the   fatigue   caused   by 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  281 

an  incessant  use  of  his  artificial  aim,  and  suddenly  be  found 
his  strength  fail. 

Toro  was  standing  op  in  the  boat,  watching  the  progress 
of  his  comrade. 

"  Help,  Toro !  hdp  me,  for  I  am  sinking." 


CHAPTER  3UV. 

MAGIC  ISLAND  AXD  FADtT 


THE  Harkavay  party  made  up  their  minds  to  leave 
China  forth  with. 

Mr.  Mole  disposed  of  his  plantation  and  property  generally 
for  the  second  tune,  and  they  invested  the  capital,  thus 
realised,  together  with  some  money  added  by  Harkavay, 
Dick  Harvey,  and  Jefferson. 

The  ship  thus  became  the  joint  piupau  of  the  four  persons 
named—  Isaac  Mole,  Harkavay,  Jefeson,  and  Dick  Harrey. 

Long  consultations  vere  held  vith  Spirillo  vith  regard  to 
the  treasure  island  of  the  Greek  Archipelago,  and  the  ex- 
pirate  shoved  them  to  their  entire  satisfaction  that  young 
Jack's  confidence  in  him  had  been  entirely  warranted. 

He  had  not  only  charts  and  plans  of  the  treasure  island, 
but  he  had  also  a  vritten  description  of  the  place,  giving  the 
most  elaborate  details. 

So  Harkavay  and  his  friends  quickly  made  arrangements 
to  start  in  search  of  the  pirate's  treasure  on  the  Greek 


Jack  and  his  party  had  their  adventures,  bat  as  they  did 
m>t  materially  affect  the  progress  of  this  veritable  narrative: 

_   _  ."..,_  ^_1_J   __  1"_1*  ___  —  *!.._  ,  ~.  «!»A     ___  *      —     ' 

we  propose  suupiy  giKnng  ower  CTC  wagr  BO  BBB  jmmpetago 
itseK.  changing  the  scene  as  rapidly  as  though  our  pen  vere 
a  harlequin's  wand. 

And  vben  they  first  sighted  land,  after  a  vearr  waste  of 
water  had  been  passed,  Isaac  Mole,  vho  had  been  Hmp  and 


J»«|i.»MViii  through  seasickness,  suddenly  stumped  along 
the  deck,  and  regained  his  vonted  joyous  demeanour. 

"So  this  is  Greece?  '  he  exclaimed  to  his  pupil,  vho  stood 
beside  him. 

-Ye*  sir,"  said  joong  Jack, 


282  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  AND  HIS  SOAPS 

"  Classic  Greece.  '  Those  Isles  of  Greece,'  as  the  poet  has 
sung." 

"  He  and  grease  is  much  of  a  muchness,  sir,  I  thought," 
said  young  Jack. 

"  My  dear  boy,"  replied  the  tutor,  "  don't  give  your  mind 
to  vulgar  joking ;  punning  is  the  lowest  kind  of  wit." 

Spirillo  here  came  up  with  Dick  Harvey  and  Mr.  Jefferson. 

"  We  shall  have  to  shift  our  course  a  point,  sir,"  said  the 
former. 

"Is  that  our  destination  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Jefferson,  pointing 
to  the  land  ahead. 

"  No,  sir." 

"  What  is  the  name  of  that  place  then  ? " 

"That  sir,  must  be  the  Island  of  Scio." 

" '  Scio's  rocky  isle, ' "  said  Mr.  Mole,  who  was  irrepressible, 
when  he  had  a  quoting  fit  on  him. 

"  So  that  is  Scio,  of  which  we  have  all  heard  and  read  so 
much  ;  and  how  far  is  our  journey  now  ?  " 

"  We  shall  sight  our  island,  sir,  in  less  than  an  hour." 

Some  of  the  party  were  for  landing  at  Scio,  and  making  a 
short  stay  upon  the  island. 

But  this  was  opposed  by  Jack  Harkaway  upon  several 
grounds. 

"  Let  us  get  through  our  work  first,"  said  he,  "  and  then 
we  can  play  as  much  as  you  wish,  and  I'll  join  you,  for  I  long 
to  get  over  to  the  place  myself. " 

"  But  I  don't  see  that  the  case  is  so  urgent,"  suggested  one. 

"  No,"  answered  Harkaway,  "but you  must  remember  that 
our  friend  Spirillo  has  made  this  journey  with  that  one  sole 
object — the  pirate's  secret  cave." 

"  Yes,  it  is  best,"  said  Jefferson,  "  for  it  would  not  do  to  risk 
every  thing  after  coming  thus  far." 

Scio  was  passed  about  an  hour  when  they  sighted  land 
again. 

Spirillo  and  young  Jack  were  standing  upon  the  quarter- 
deck together,  and  the  former  handed  young  Jack  his  glass. 

"  There,"  said  he,  "  that  is  our  destination." 

The  boy  took  the  glass,  saying — 

"That?" 

"Yes." 

"  The  coasts  seem  to  be  covered  with  vegetation,"  said 
young  Jack. 

"  They  are." 


ADVENTURES  IN  CHINA.  «Sj 

"And  is  it  possible  that  that  island  is  uninhabited  ?" 

"Xot  quite,"  replied  Spirillo. 

"  Then  how  is  it  the  pirates  contrive  to  -  " 

•  Keep  it  to  themselves.  Easily,"  answered  Spirillo.  «*By 
his  unscrupulous  daring  he  got  the  treasure,  and  the  place,  too, 
to  himself.  The  few  he  has  chosen  to  keep  are  men  devoted 
to  him  partly  by  love,  but  a  great  deal  more,  I  doubt  not,  by 
fear.  Monastos  is  a  man  to  dread.  " 

Young  Jack  stared. 

"  He  must  be  a  very  desperate  character." 

"He  is." 

"  Quite  a  magician  in  point  of  fact." 

The  ex-pirate  smiled. 

"I  don't  quite  believe  in  magic,"  he  said:  "but  this  I 
know  —  Monastos  is  a  man  who  in  tne  dark  ages  would  have 
been  a  king.  He  has  been  a  great  power  in  the  political 
world,  as  it  is." 

"Indeed." 

"  Aye,  indeed.  You  may  laugh,  Master  Jack,  but  you  don't 
know  this  part  of  the  world  :  you  can  not  imagine  the  state 
of  things  here.  Why,  Monastos  has  been  such  a  power  that 
the  government  truckled  to  him  —  the  government  has  bar- 
gained with  him." 

"Bargained!" 

"Yes." 

"That's  rather  a  strong  expression  !  "  said  Jack. 

"  It  answers  exactly  to  the  state  of  their  relations  with 
this  pirate  chief.  They  would  have  beaten  him  under,  had 


they  possessed  the  power. 
"But  they  hadn't." 


No. 

"  That  sounds  odd." 

«  To  Englishmen—  yes,  I  know  it.  But  here  ifs  *oy  Af- 
ferent. What  would  you  say  if  I  told  you  that  Monastos  has 
served  the  government  as  banker?  " 

"  Banker  !  Come,  I  say,  Spirillo,  that  is  stretching  it  a 
little  too  far." 

"Not  a  bit,"  Spirillo  replied.  "Monastos  has,  with  his 
enormous  riches,  helped  to  make  up  the  deficit  in  more  than 
one  budget—  Aey  wink  at  ft,  that's  alL  He  has  had  money 
to  lend,  and  they  have  been  willing  to  borrow.  " 

"Why,  Spirillo,"  said  Jefferson,  coming  up  just  then,  a  I 
thought  yon  spoke  of  landing  about  here." 


284  JACK:  HARK  AWAY  A  ND  HIS  SOWS 

"Yes,  there  is  a  creek  so  cunningly  concealed  in  the  coast, 
that  no  one  has  ever  yet  detected  it  to  my  knowledge,"  said 
Spirillo. 

"  Indeed  ! "  said  Jefferson,  with  a  stare. 

"  So  well  hidden,  sir  that  you  shall  seek  for  it  and  not  find 
it,  even  knowing  of  its  existence." 

The  confidence  with  which  the  ex-pirate  spoke,  excited 
considerable  curiosity,  and  the  interest  of  the  party  increased 
every  minute. 

The  command  of  the  vessel  was  left  exclusively  now  to 
Spirillo,  who  scanned  the  coast  closely,  as  they  glided  by. 

Watching  his  expression  closely,  they  perceived  that  a  smile 
of  satisfaction  flitted  across  his  face  as  he  turned  away  and 
closed  his  telescope. 

Then  he  gave  orders  for  swinging  the  ship  round  a  bit  so 
as  to  set  her  full  at  a  narrow  little  creek,  whose  banks  were 
covered  with  thickly-grown  trees  and  shrubs.  So  thickly  as 
to  appear  wellnigh  impenetrable. 

Moreover,  the  creek  did  not  appear  to  be  more  than  a  few 
feet  wide,  and  as  for  its  depth,  it  must  be  insignificant. 

"  Why,  I  can  see  to  the  end  of  the  creek,"  declared  one  of 
the  sailors. 

"  Well,  if  that's  Cap'n  Spriller's  harbour,  I  think  we  shan't 
want  much  harb'ring  long,"  said  another  sailor. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that,  my  good  man  ? "  asked  a 
voice  at  his  elbow. 

It  was  Mr.  Mole. 

The  worthy  Isaac  was  getting  a  bit  uneasy. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  repeated  Mr.  Mole,  as  the  sailor 
stared  very  hard  at  him. 

"  Why,  if  your  honour  must  know — and  axing  your  pardon," 
was  the  sailor's  reply,  with  a  scrape,  "  I  think  we  shall  find 
the  '  Sea  Mew  '  on  the  beach — or  mebbe  on  the  rocks,  keel 
up'ards." 

"  Goodness  me ! "  ejaculated  the  tutor.  "  Don't  you  think 
she's  sound  ? " 

"  Lawks,  yes,  she's  right  and  tight." 

"  Tight,"  thought  Mr.  Mole,  who  was  not  to  say  strictly 
compos  mentis  himself.  "That's  an  insinuation.  The 
fellow  means  to  hint  that  the  ship'll  roll  over  because  she's 
tight ;  I'll  report  that  fellow." 

The  "Sea  Mew"  swung  round,  answering  her  helm  as 
truly  as  one  of  the  penny  steamers  on  the  Thames,  and  shot 


ADVEMTUZES  m  cam*. 


•to  the  tittle  creek,  and  tfaioogh  fie  forage,  which  parted 
oo  being  tooched  as  readily  as  if  it  had  been  a  screen  of 
feathe^,  and  dosing  in  upon  her,  completely  screened  her 
from  the  roew  of  any  passing  vessel  om  dK  ocean  higfaway. 
as  they  passed  bribe  first  dense  screen  of 


propose  that  we  cast    anchor   here,  SpiriEu, "   said 
Harkaway. 

"Good.1* 

Youing  Jack  and  his  companion,  Hany  Giidwood, 
amongst  the  crowd  on  deck,  eagerly  walching  the 
;:  :.-.-     7,- 

"FD  bet  FBI  the  first  to  land," 

•m  have  yow,  Jack,"  retorted  Hairy. 

And  then  they  both  made  a  rash  and  a  scramble, 
pretty  musical  voice,  dose  by,  told  them  tint  they  had  both 
lost. 

Somebody  is  there  before  you,""  said  Bttle  Em%,  with  a 


•Mny  langh ;-  look  np  there.1 
They  obeyed,, 


there  they  saw  Nero,  perched  on  lie 
branch  of  a  lofty  tree. 

yoong  Jack,  shaking  his  fist 
have  stokm  a  march  on  us.*" 


Fm  next  at  any  rate,'*  cried  young  Jack. 
And  before  Hairy  Giidwood  could   gness  what  he 
•^^M>J        —A 


i  OB  the  deck cf  the  -Sea 
"Brarchearts!    Welcome  to  Magic  Island!  "cried 


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